When books are adapted to the big screen, it's a well-established fact that not every single minor detail is going to get a chance to make the transition, often due to time constraints or to avoid overcomplicating the story. This approach is totally normal and is pretty much expected as far as book-to-movie adaptations go. Of course, it happened quite a lot with the Harry Potter books and movies.
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Some of the most important things left out of the films are what happens to some of the characters following the events of the story. These characters all appear in the movie, but whether or not they lived or died at the end is up in the air and can only be answered by reading the novels. These are the Harry Potter characters whose fate was left ambiguous in the movies for one reason or another.
10 Vincent Crabbe First Appearance: 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' (2001)
Vincent Crabbe (Jamie Waylett) is one of Draco Malfoy's (Tom Felton) cronies who pretty much always accompanies him. In the novels, he isn't much of a large presence until the finale, when he unleashes Fiendfyre and accidentally burns himself to a crisp in the process. Obviously, he doesn't survive this, much to the horror of his friends, who watch him die right in front of them.
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However, in the live-action movies, Crabbe's fate is left uncertain because the actor, Jamie Waylett, had run into some legal trouble in real life and was subsequently fired from the films following the fifth installment. He was then replaced by Blaise Zabini (Louis Cordice), but the filmmakers felt that having Blaise take up the same role as Crabbe wouldn't feel quite right. As such, they assigned Crabbe's role to Gregory Goyle (Josh Herdman), another one of Malfoy's cronies who had been present since day one. In the final film, it is Goyle who uses Fiendfyre and burns himself to death in the process, whereas no mention of Crabbe is made.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone PGAdventureFamilyFantasy
Where to Watch streamrentbuy *Availability in US Release Date November 16, 2001 Director Chris Columbus Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint , Emma Watson , John Cleese , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis , Richard Griffiths , Ian Hart , John Hurt , Alan Rickman , Fiona Shaw , Maggie Smith Runtime 152 Minutes Writers J.K. Rowling , Steve Kloves ✕ Remove Ads 9 Dolores Umbridge First Appearance: 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' (2007)
Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) is by far one of the most despised characters in the Harry Potter movies, making her first appearance as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She is known for her bizarre and uptight rules and policies, denying the return of the Dark Lord as per her role at the Ministry, and her cruel and unusual methods of punishment.
Umbridge appears in later films, where she maintains her job at the Ministry and begins persecuting the innocent on behalf of the Dark Lord. She may not be a full-on Death Eater, but it's certainly no secret that she was a huge fan of them. What happens to her after the war's end isn't really explored in the movies, but in the books, Umbridge is tried and sent to Azkaban for her crimes against the Wizarding World. It is unknown how long she stayed behind bars, but there's no denying that she definitely got what she deserved.
✕ Remove Ads Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix PG-13
Where to Watch streamrentbuy *Availability in US Release Date June 28, 2007 Director David Yates Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Alan Rickman , Ralph Fiennes , Rupert Grint , Helena Bonham Carter , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis , Michael Gambon , Brendan Gleeson , Richard Griffiths , Maggie Smith Runtime 138 Minutes 8 Colin Creevey First Appearance: 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' (2002)
Colin Creevey (Hugh Mitchell) is an eccentric yet enthusiastic young boy who first appears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. He is seldom seen without his signature camera and is one of the many students who become petrified upon his encounter with the Basilisk. Colin eventually recovers but does not make any follow-up appearances in the films, which might be for the best because his story is much more tragic in the books.
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In the novels, Colin makes multiple reappearances, with his excitement about knowing Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) never really waning. He is later present during the Battle of Hogwarts in the final book, but unfortunately, he is killed in combat, losing his life to one of the many Death Eaters besieging the castle. Colin might be a little strange, but he has been a beloved background character for book fans, so watching him meet his untimely end makes the final confrontation sting a little bit more. For better or for worse, this fate is never explored on the big screen.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PGAdventureFamilyFantasyMystery
Where to Watch streamrentbuy *Availability in US Release Date November 13, 2002 Director Chris Columbus Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint , Emma Watson , Richard Griffiths , Fiona Shaw , Harry Melling Runtime 161 Writers J.K. Rowling , Steve Kloves 7 Gilderoy Lockhart First Appearance: 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' (2002) ✕ Remove Ads
Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) is the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in Harry's second year at Hogwarts. Lockhart was something of a celebrity in the Wizarding World, known for his various magical feats and adventures. Only, he was actually a total fraud, and these stories were taken from other wizards and witches who had their memories wiped by Lockhart. As a result, his teaching skills were terrible.
In both the book and the movie adaptation, he tries to erase the memories of Harry and Ron (Rupert Grint) after they discover his secret, but he stupidly uses Ron's broken wand for the memory charm. It backfires and erases Lockhart's memory completely. Lockhart later reappears in the fifth novel in St. Mungo's magical hospital, where he is bumbling around like an oaf with zero recollection of who he is or what he's supposed to be doing. As a result, Lockhart becomes confined to the hospital for the rest of his life, completely unaware of any aspect of his past life. It's a bit of tragic irony that isn't exactly undeserved, but still a little sad.
✕ Remove Ads 6 Igor Karkaroff First Appearance: 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' (2005)
Igor Karkaroff (Predrag Bjelac) is the Headmaster of Durmstrang, the Northern and Eastern European school of magic. He first appears in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as Durmstrang arrives at Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament. He is kind of intimidating but seems to be on good terms with Professor Dumbledore (Sir Michael Gambon).
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However, Harry later finds out that Karkaroff was formerly a Death Eater, serving in the First Wizarding War on behalf of the Dark Lord, though he appeared to have reconsidered his role in the conflict. Nothing else is said about him in the movies, but in the books, Karkaroff flees for his life upon finding out that the Dark Lord has returned and takes refuge in an isolated cabin in the woods. He survives here for a whole year before the Death Eaters kill him for his perceived betrayal, an event that is just a passing mention in the books. Karkaroff was always a bit of a morally grey character, so his death doesn't exactly hurt much, but it is frightening knowing how scared he was of Voldemort and how good the Death Eaters were at tracking down their enemies.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire PG-13AdventureFamilyFantasyMystery
Where to Watch streamrentbuy *Availability in US Release Date November 18, 2005 Director Mike Newell Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Tom Felton , Robbie Coltrane , Ralph Fiennes , Michael Gambon , Brendan Gleeson , Gary Oldman , Timothy Spall , Alan Rickman , Maggie Smith Runtime 157 Minutes Writers Steve Kloves , J.K. Rowling 5 Stan Shunpike First appearance: 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' (2004) ✕ Remove Ads
Stan Shunpike (Lee Ingleby) is the eccentric conductor of the Knight Bus, who transports Harry to the Leaky Cauldron prior to his third year at Hogwarts. Stan is kind of odd, sure, but there doesn't appear to be any real malicious intent in him. Or is there? In the movies, he is the conductor of the bus and nothing more, appearing in one scene, and that's it.
In the books, though, Stan has a much more sinister role, as he is revealed to be a supporter of Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and is pulling a lot of strings for him behind the scenes. Following the end of the war, Stan is put on trial at the Ministry of Magic, but he pleads not guilty, claiming he was under the Imperius Curse the whole time. There's no confirmation if his claims are even remotely true, but he was allowed to walk free anyway and returned to his job as a conductor. It's a rather unremarkable fate, but Stan also had previous run-ins with the law during the war, so one can't help but wonder if he was lying or not.
✕ Remove Ads Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban pg-13AdventureFamilyFantasyMystery
Where to Watch streamrentbuy *Availability in US Release Date May 31, 2004 Director Alfonso Cuarón Cast Gary Oldman , David Thewlis , Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Robbie Coltrane , Timothy Spall , Maggie Smith , Michael Gambon , Richard Griffiths , Fiona Shaw , Alan Rickman Runtime 144 Minutes Writers J.K. Rowling , Steve Kloves 4 Peter Pettigrew First appearance: 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' (2004)
Perhaps the most significant fate left out of the movies is that of Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), the Animagus who poses as Ron Weasley's pet rat, Scabbers, for the first three films. Audiences will likely remember that in the fourth film, Peter raises Voldemort from the dead, but in order to perform the ritual, he has to cut off his own hand as an offering. When Voldemort returns, he grants Peter a silvery new hand; unbeknownst to Peter, it comes with a special enchantment.
Pettigrew has one of the most brutal and violent deaths in the book, especially considering how Harry tries to save him.
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In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, Dobby (Toby Jones) hits Peter with some sort of stunning spell, knocking him out. He is never seen again in the films, even though he appears to have survived. In the books, however, Peter meets a much more violent end. See, his shiny new hand was enchanted to strangle him if it ever detected a hint of hesitation in killing someone, which is exactly what Peter did when he tried to kill Harry in this same scene. Thus, the hand breaks free of Peter's control and chokes him to death in the Malfoy manor's basement. It's one of the most brutal and violent deaths in the book, especially considering how Harry tries to save him, but the magic on the hand is too strong, and Peter suffers a long, slow, painful death.
3 Kingsley Shacklebolt First Appearance: 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' (2007) ✕ Remove Ads
Kingsley Shacklebolt (George Harris) appears in the fifth film as a background character who shows up at Harry's house to take him to Grimmauld Place. He is later present during the fight in the Ministry of Magic, where he duels against the Death Eaters and helps to rescue the Hogwarts students who traveled there. Kinglsey then fights in the Battle of Hogwarts against the Death Eaters, cementing himself as a major member of the Order of the Phoenix.
Kingsley may have been loyal to the Ministry, but he also knows right from wrong and, more often than not, made the correct choice when it came to combat Voldemort. In the movies, he is shown to have survived the battle, which he does in the book, too, but what happens to him after that is unknown. That is unless one were to read the book. Following the war, Kingsley was appointed to be the next Minister of Magic and reportedly brought about some much-needed changes to the organization, a fitting destiny for him.
✕ Remove Ads 2 Percy Weasley First Appearance: 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' (2001)
Percy Weasley (Chris Rankin) is the third-eldest of the Weasley brothers and is in his upper years at Hogwarts when Harry first arrives. Percy is a man of order and is good at upholding standards and rules, receiving the position of prefect at Hogwarts. Following his graduation, Percy joined his father in working for the Ministry of Magic. The difference is that Percy was way more loyal to his job than he was to his family.
Sadly, movie fans still remember him as a traitor who cared more about the Ministry than his family or friends.
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In the films, he makes a minor appearance in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix but is not seen beyond that. In the books, however, Percy comes back to his family home and physically disowns his family, informing his mother that he no longer wishes to be associated with them due to the Ministry's denial of Harry's claims that Voldemort returned. Since the Weasleys were Harry's friends, Percy wanted nothing to do with them, which devastates his mother. However, he later returns to fight during the Battle of Hogwarts against the Death Eaters, reconciling with his family. He is present when his brother, Fred (James Phelps), dies. In the movies, though, Percy never really gets this redemption, which is kind of unfortunate, as movie fans still remember him as a traitor who cared more about the Ministry than his family or friends.
1 Buckbeak First Appearance: 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' (2004) ✕ Remove Ads
Buckbeak is the beloved hippogriff that Harry meets during his Care of Magical Creatures lesson with Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). One of the best non-human Harry Potter characters, Buckbeak is infinitely expressive and emotional, which made fans fall in love with him almost right away. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Buckbeak is set to be executed by the Ministry because he (justifiably) attacked Draco.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione save him from execution, and as a token of thanks, Buckbeak assists them with rescuing Sirius Black (Gary Oldman). In the movies, he is never seen again, but in the books, Buckbeak later appears at Sirius' house at Grimmauld Place, where he is given the bedroom formerly belonging to Sirius' deceased mother. After Sirius dies in the fifth novel and following the end of the Second Wizarding War, Harry discovers that Sirius left Buckbeak to him, meaning Harry becomes the legal owner of Buckbeak. The circumstances are pretty tragic, but at least Buckbeak came to live with a person whom he knew and trusted.
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NEXT: 10 Best Harry Potter Friendships, Ranked