Rank 3: Kreacher’s Development
In the films, we get to know Kreacher as a nasty house-elf who betrays Harry. Even in the books, he is initially anything but a nice character. But here we learn more about Kreacher’s story.
For example, he was previously abused by Voldemort as a test subject for his painful Horcrux security. Later, Kreacher was instructed by his master, Regulus Black, to destroy the Horcrux locket. Of course, the house-elf could not manage that, which made him quite distraught, as he must obey his orders.
Harry, who increasingly feels pity for Kreacher, eventually gives him the fake Horcrux locket. This changes the house-elf’s attitude completely. He washes himself again, cleans, cooks, and does everything for his new master. In the end, he even leads the house-elves of Hogwarts into battle against Voldemort, armed with machetes.
Rank 2: The End of Pettigrew
Peter Pettigrew, better known as Wormtail, was the treacherous school friend of Sirius, Lupin, and James. Although he is seen in each film as a rat or human, we do not learn what ultimately happens to him.
In the book, however, Peter Pettigrew meets a tragic end.
In part 4, he helps Voldemort regain a new body and sacrifices his right hand for it. As a reward, Wormtail receives a magical, silver-glimmering replacement hand from his dark master. But this gift ultimately becomes his downfall.
When Harry and his friends want to escape from the Malfoys’ cellar, they are caught by Wormtail. But Wormtail hesitates to attack Harry. Because Harry had once granted him mercy. This brief moment of betrayal is enough. With the magical hand, enchanted by Voldemort, Wormtail must strangle himself.
Rank 1: Voldemort’s Defeat
In the great final battle, Harry manages to defeat his arch-enemy Voldemort once and for all. In the film version, the two duel outside, alone. Harry disarms Voldemort, who then simply dissolves into black confetti.
In the book, however, the duel takes place in front of everyone in the Great Hall. Voldemort’s curse is finally rebounded onto him, and he dies. The book states:
Tom Riddle fell to the ground with banal finality, with a weak and shriveled body and empty white hands, the serpent-like face expressionless and ignorant.
The important thing here is: Voldemort died like an ordinary person. He was not an all-powerful being, not an immortal god, which he so desperately wanted to be. In the end, he simply lay dead on the ground, like everyone else. And everyone was there to witness this final humiliation.
Which detail from this list would you have liked to see in the films? Feel free to tell us in the comments! In another ranking here on MeinMMO, we have already looked at the 10 biggest differences between films and books: Harry Potter: The 10 biggest differences between films and books in ranking
