The Harry Potter series might be a story about friendship and the power of love, but some of its most striking moments happen during adrenaline-fueled magical fights. During these battles, the heroes get to shine even in the most perilous of times.
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Both J.K. Rowling's books and the Harry Potter movies did a fantastic job of showing what makes a wizarding battle unlike any other in pop culture, showcasing the main characters' growth and skill as they face the strongest enemies. Whether it's a large-scale battle or a one-on-one duel, the Harry Potter series has incredible action scenes that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
10 Golden Trio Fought Snatchers In The Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 Movie
The Golden Trio constantly fought for their lives while hunting for Voldemort's Horcruxes. After Harry unconsciously uttered Voldemort's name, which isn't a common practice, the Golden Trio were captured by a powerful band of Snatchers. The Snatchers hunt and capture any Muggles or blood-traitors, eager to get paid for their prisoners.
In the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 movie, Harry, Ron, and Hermione managed to fight the Snatchers for a while before succumbing to their larger numbers. Before being interrogated, Hermione cleverly sent a Stinging Hex at Harry's face. This clever move thrilled fans, as it temporarily disfigured Harry and made it impossible for the Snatchers to identify him fully.
9 The Golden Trio Fought Death Eaters And Dementors At The Ministry Of Magic
After infiltrating the British Ministry of Magic with the help of Polyjuice Potion, the Golden Trio successfully recovered Slytherin's Locket from Umbridge's greedy hands. This delighted fans, as Umbridge is one of the most hated Harry Potter characters. Unfortunately, they couldn't leave quietly as a group of Dementors and Death Eaters tried their best to immobilize the heroes.
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As they were escaping, Harry and Hermione conjured their Patronuses and used them to effectively deflect the Dementors and save the innocent Muggle-borns in the room. The Golden Trio also managed to shake off the Death Eaters, but were unable to return to Grimmauld Place as planned.
8 The Heroes Fought Death Eaters In Malfoy Manor
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and other prisoners like Dean Thomas and Griphook were all taken to Voldemort's provisional headquarters in Malfoy Manor after being captured by Snatchers. As they were discovered with the Sword of Gryffindor, which was meant to be hidden, Bellatrix decided to interrogate Hermione under the Cruciatus Curse.
In the cellars, Harry and Ron reunited with Luna and Mr. Ollivander, who'd been prisoners for some time. With Dobby's help, Harry and Ron escaped and battled the Malfoys, Bellatrix, and other Death Eaters to rescue Hermione. As they were Disapparating, Bellatrix managed to fatally injure Dobby, who then died in Harry's arms. Fans were devastated, but glad to see the heroes standing up to the Death Eaters.
7 Dumbledore And Draco Fought In The Astronomy Tower
After acquiring Slytherin's Locket, Harry and Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts and found that the school had been taken over by Death Eaters. They flew on broomsticks into the Astronomy Tower, where Dumbledore urged Harry to hide under his invisibility cloak. Shortly after, Draco Malfoy cornered the Headmaster and explained his year-long plan to murder him. This reveal was shocking and only fueled fans' hatred for Draco.
As Draco was unable to fulfill Voldemort's orders, Snape then killed Dumbledore and fled the castle. Grief-stricken and furious, Harry ran after Snape and engaged him in a short duel. In a suspenseful fight that was filled with shocking twists, Snape was revealed to be the Half-Blood Prince.
6 Slytherin's Basilisk And Harry Battled In The Chamber Of Secrets
Having found Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets, Harry finally confronted the real Heir of Slytherin, who turned out to be Voldemort's past self, Tom Riddle. As they argued, Dumbledore's pet phoenix, Fawkes, arrived with the Sorting Hat and dropped it next to Harry.
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Using Parseltongue, Riddle then summoned Slytherin's long-lived Basilisk and ordered the beast to kill Harry while he gained more power. Harry extracted the Sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat and then proceeded to battle the Basilisk, stabbing it through its skull and killing it. Thankfully, Ginny was saved.
5 Harry Appears Several Times During The Battle Of The Seven Potters
At the beginning of Deathly Hallows, some of the best and strongest members of the Order of the Phoenix were tasked with transporting Harry from Privet Drive to the Burrow. Their plan included using Polyjuice Potion to transform six others into decoy Harrys in case they were ambushed.
Soon after taking flight, the Order were surrounded by a swarm of Death Eaters and Voldemort himself. After a heated battle in the sky, Harry's wand acted on its own and defended its master from Voldemort. Moody lost his life during the battle. Several others, like George Weasley, were injured in the process. Despite this, the battle was interesting because fans hadn't seen anything like it before.
4 Battle Of The Department Of Mysteries
Convinced that Voldemort had kidnapped Sirius, Harry and his friends organized a rescue mission and flew on Thestrals to the Ministry of Magic. Once inside, they infiltrated the Department of Mysteries and found a strange prophecy with Harry and Voldemort's names on it. Moments later, they realized they were surrounded by Death Eaters.
The six teenagers managed to hold their own against the Death Eaters for a while before the members of the Order of the Phoenix arrived. Sirius fought his evil cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, and was struck by a fatal curse that pushed him through the Veil of Life and Death. For its hard-hitting emotion, this was one of the best fights in Harry Potter.
3 The Little Hangleton Cemetery Saw Harry And Voldemort Fight
In Goblet of Fire, Voldemort used the Triwizard Tournament cup to transport Harry into the Little Hangleton cemetery where he was waiting. His faithful servant, Wormtail, then took some of Harry's blood and used it to bring a weakened Voldemort back to his full power.
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Once reborn, Voldemort called his Death Eaters and proceeded to taunt Harry into a very one-sided duel. To his shock, however, their wands connected and performed Priori Incantatem, forcing Voldemort's wand to regurgitate the ghostly images of his last few victims. The spirits of Harry's parents and Cedric then distracted Voldemort long enough for Harry to escape.
2 Voldemort And Dumbledore Fought In The Ministry Of Magic's Atrium
Struck with grief after his godfather's death, Harry followed Bellatrix into the Ministry's atrium where he tried to use the Cruciatus Curse on her. As Harry was informing her that the prophecy had been destroyed, Voldemort Apparated in front of him and tried to attack him.
Dumbledore, who had arrived moments before Sirius' death, protected Harry from Voldemort's Killing Curse and then engaged with the Dark wizard in one of the most important battles in the series. After a long duel where both parties exhibited their incredible powers, Voldemort fled just as Ministry officials barged onto the scene.
1 The Final Showdown Between Voldemort And Harry In The Battle Of Hogwarts Was Tense
Towards the end of the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry sacrificed himself to protect the defenders of Hogwarts. A victorious Voldemort returned to the castle with his Death Eaters to show off Harry's 'dead' body. Harry, who had been pretending to be dead, finally confronted him once and for all.
After a long conversation where Harry gave Voldemort the opportunity to repent, the two traded their last spells of the duel: Harry's Expelliarmus vs Voldemort's Avada Kedavra. Now mortal after the destruction of his Horcruxes, Voldemort was hit by his own rebounded Killing Curse and perished like any other human being. The final battle of Harry Potter killed Voldemort and allowed beloved characters to prove their courage and skill, which was the best way to end the series.
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