The Harry Potter franchise found its way into more people's hearts when the seven books turned into eight magical movies. Throughout, there are still enchantment and wonder, but as the series goes on, a feeling of darkness pervades the story and whole tone. The franchise is never particularly seen as a contribution to the horror genre, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of scary moments.
Throughout the entire series, there are a lot of really disturbing moments. Others are the terrible and frightening things, like the Death Eaters inflict on those around them. Some of these weird creatures include cursed beings like the Inferi. But beyond merely being frightful, these instances also caused viewers and readers to experience a level of disgust in one way or another. Now get ready to look back at 13 of the scariest moments in the Harry Potter movies!
#1 Greyback's desire for Hermione
Source: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I/Warner Bros. Pictures
There is no wonder that Fenrir Greyback is a villain. The Death Eater-werewolf enjoys attacking his prey and obeys all of Lord Voldemort's orders. But the thing that strikes me as most nasty about him is the way he talks about Hermione. While visiting Malfoy Manor, Greyback not only mentions his desire to consume the young woman, but also makes it seem as though he could have other intentions for her.
#2 Fred and George Weasley imprisoned a student in confinement
Source: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix/Warner Bros. Pictures
Older brothers Fred and George Weasley generally come across as pleasant, sometimes goofy side characters. In contrast, the brothers keep a Montague, a Slytherin student, in a Vanishing Cabinet for months in Order of the Phoenix, nearly killing him.
#3 Nagini bites Snape
Source: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II/Warner Bros. Pictures
Although technically Nagini does bit the Half-Blood Prince in the film adaptation, the action is not captured on camera. The attack is brutal, bloody, and violent, which was maybe a little too much for a PG-13 movie to handle.
#4 The death by self-choking of Peter Pettigrew
Source: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II/Warner Bros. Pictures
Dobby stuns Peter Pettigrew in Deathly Hallows Part 1, bringing an end to his on-screen journey. But if you read the novels, Pettigrew's fate is far gloomier. Pettigrew's prosthetic hand turns against him as he attempts to murder Harry. While Harry and Ron try to prevent his suicide, he strangles himself to death.
#5 Molly Weasley sees all her loved ones dead
Source: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II/Warner Bros. Pictures
The matriarch of the Weasley family, Molly Weasley, encounters a boggart, a shape-shifting monster that assumes the form of its viewers' darkest fears, and experiences a nightmare-like experience. This appears to Molly as a vision of her entire family laying dead at her feet.
#6 Addiction problems of Winky the House Elf
Source: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets/Warner Bros. Pictures
Winky the house elf, who spent years working for the Crouch family, is never even mentioned in the movies. This might be as a result of Winky's severe sadness and constant drinking after being set free by the Crouchs. Dobby tries to help her back on her feet, but his attempts are unsuccessful.
#7 People are tortured by Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup
Source: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II/Warner Bros. Pictures
The Harry Potter films never shied away from showing how brutal and dangerous Quidditch can be. However, they left out the scene in which the Death Eaters torment a muggle family by hanging them upside down and showing their underwear at the Quidditch World Cup.
#8 Ron gets strangled by a brain
Source: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix/Warner Bros. Pictures
Most people assume that the Department of Mysteries is exactly what it sounds like—a enigmatic and largely unexplored division of the Ministry of Magic. Probably holding a different opinion is Ron Weasley. Ron gets choked by the tentacles of a magically created brain while on a visit to a "brain room," where he is.
#9 The moment when Neville visits his parents
Source: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix/Warner Bros. Pictures
In terms of family, Harry has it tough, but Neville Longbottom may perhaps have it harder. Although they are still alive, his parents' torment has left them completely catatonic. In Order of the Phoenix, Neville pays them a visit, and it's painful to see that although they're there, they're not actually his parents.
#10 Most of Tom Riddle's family is murdered by him
Source: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets/Warner Bros. Pictures
A young Tom Riddle pays a visit to his family in the Little Hangleton village before growing up to become the Dark Lord Voldemort. Tom kills his father and grandparents and blame it for his uncle, in contrast to the majority of students who probably use these trips home to meet up with their loved ones and tell imaginative tales of their studies at Hogwarts. Yikes.
#11 Jr. Barty Crouch gets kissed by the Dementors
Source: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban/Warner Bros. Pictures
The Dementors' Kiss, in which a Dementor actually takes the victim's soul from them, leaves them an empty husk, is a fate worse than death. In The Goblet of Fire, which was written by Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, Barty Crouch, Jr. witnesses such a fate. This injustice prohibited Crouch, Jr. from providing the Ministry with any information on Voldemort in addition to being terribly brutal.
#12 Ariana Dumbledore was caught in the crossfire
Source: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I/Warner Bros. Pictures
Albus Dumbledore had a younger sister, who he may have tragically killed. Ariana Dumbledore was unfortunate enough to be caught in the middle of Albus and Gellert Grindelwald's fight in 1899. She was struck dead in the midst of the confusion, and it is still unknown which of the wizards was to blame. It's reasonable to conclude that this was not a moment worth reliving in a feature film.
#13 Sirius Black's death makes Harry devastated
Source: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban/Warner Bros. Pictures
The passing of Harry's godfather Sirius Black has not gone down well. This makes sense considering how the young magician has experienced the loss of individuals who meant the most to him during his whole life. Harry destroys the Headmaster's books and other belongings in Dumbledore's office in Order of the Phoenix as a result of his sorrow and rage.