Summary
- Dumbledore vanishes to avoid arrest, showcasing his magical prowess.
- McGonagall summons stone soldiers in the Battle of Hogwarts, a power move.
- Harry Potter defeats Voldemort in a one-on-one duel in the Hogwarts courtyard.
The Harry Potter franchise, a transmedia phenomenon, has dominated the New York Times Bestsellers List, the global box office, and is soon to excel on the small screen. HBO is set to deliver a reimagining of Harry Potter, a season-by-season story that hopes to include missed opportunities from the source material that the movies avoided.
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While news of the upcoming show is set to be rampant until its anticipated release in 2027, many still cling to the historic movies, detailing the adventures of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger at Hogwarts, a British wizarding school for witches and wizards alike. In these spellbinding movies, several characters display extraordinary showcases of power, utilizing years of mastery to either combat evil or embody it. Some of these power plays rank among the most impressive magical feats depicted in the Harry Potter series.
Albus Dumbledore Disappears Without A Trace
An Arrest Warrant Fails Thanks To Dumbledore's Clever Tricks
- Took Place In: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
One of the greatest wizards in history, Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts headmaster and master of magic, certainly has the capabilities to outsmart anyone. Dumbledore showcased his special talents when issued an arrest warrant by Cornelius Fudge, accompanied by highly skilled Aurors Kingsley Shacklebolt and John Dawlish, a legal move that pleased Dolores Umbridge. Dumbledore was attempting to cover up Harry's newly created Order of the Phoenix.
Before he can be seized, the classy headmaster makes a stylish exit alongside Fawkes, his phoenix, vanishing without a trace and leaving all who witnessed the event stunned. It was yet another example of why, despite his soft-spoken nature, Albus Dumbledore was not to be trifled with.
McGonagall's Summoning Of Hogwarts' Stone Soldiers
McGonagall Gets To Use A Spell She Only Dreamed Of Casting
- Took Place In: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
In the Battle of Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall gets to showcase her true potential. One of her most influential acts was the summoning of stone soldiers located all around the school, readying them for war. This was a spell McGonagall had only ever dreamed of using. Piertotum Locomotor's animation of the castle's many enormous soldiers that followed McGonagall's every command is a statement and power move by one of Hogwarts' most senior magic wielders.
Considering her vast experience, this complicated spell could only have been pulled off by a witch with a skillset such as McGonagall, a serious show of power when Hogwarts and its students needed it the most.
Severus Snape Defends Himself From McGonagall While Escaping Without A Broom
Snape Fights Off McGonagall While Utilizing The Rare Skill Of Flight
- Took Place In: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Severus Snape, one of the most senior teachers at Hogwarts, becomes headmaster at the British wizarding institute after playing a part in the death of his close companion, Dumbledore, and murdering him to infiltrate Voldemort's ranks. As a headmaster under the influence of Voldemort, Snape's rule is dark and primitive for the students of Hogwarts, as Death Eaters run wild with control and power around the school grounds.
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In the search for Harry, the protagonist reveals himself to Snape, but not before McGonagall comes to his aid, firing powerful attacks with her wand at Snape. The new headmaster defends himself against McGonagall, eventually fleeing the scene through the power of flight without a broom, a skill only performed by the very best of wizards. This speaks to Snape's magical talents. While Snape only acted in self-defense, fleeing without appropriate equipment to escape a formidable opponent suggests the versatility Snape had in his arsenal.
Force Field Around Hogwarts
The Defenders Of Hogwarts Summon A Defensive Barrier To Hold Off Voldemort And His Forces
- Took Place In: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
In the climax of the Harry Potter series, the forces of evil descend upon Hogwarts, seeking to destroy Harry and the fleeting hope that remains within the storied castle. In an attempt to quell the invasion of Voldemort's forces, a group of wizards and witches led by Molly Weasley, Horace Slughorn, and Filius Flitwick cast the Protego Maxima spell in unison, creating a force field around the school that destroys any foreign invaders who enter the protective barrier.
Despite Voldemort eventually casting dark magic to destroy the barrier, the mass defensive spell was still remarkably effective, and its protection and withstanding of Voldemort's army limited the number of casualties that Hogwarts suffered in the final battle.
Dumbledore's Firestorm Against The Inferi
The Search For A Horcrux Sees A Struggling Dumbledore Eliminate A Pack Of Inferi
- Took Place In: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
To start Harry's journey to finding the last remaining Horcruxes, the items that kept Voldemort's mortality alive, Dumbledore takes Harry to a mysterious cave where Voldemort stores Salazar Slytherin's Locket, one of the seven Horcruxes created by the dark lord. After Dumbledore begrudgingly drinks a liquid that temporarily subdues his strength and causes him to suffer tremendous pain, a legion of Inferi surfaces from the water, intending to trap Harry and a fading Dumbledore.
Despite Dumbledore's fading constitution, the headmaster of Hogwarts musters up enough strength to cast a powerful spell, spawning a firestorm to deter the Inferi from attacking and keeping him and Harry safe. This was an incredible feat considering the challenging obstacle Dumbledore had just overcome, which rendered him unstable.
Harry Potter Defeats Voldemort
The Series' Protagonist Kills The Dark Lord On A Level Playing Field
- Took Place In: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
In the culmination of the entire Harry Potter series, the hero, Harry, manages to defeat Voldemort in a one-on-one duel in the Hogwarts courtyard, aided by Neville Longbottom, who slays the final Horcrux. As soon as Harry returns to the fold after seemingly being killed by his nemesis, Harry and Voldemort engage in a back-and-forth battle, giving time for Ron and Hermione to attempt to slay Nagini, Voldemort's pet snake.
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While Harry puts up a good fight, the tides turn when Neville's crucial strike on the dark lord's snake creates an opportunity for Harry, who emerges victorious against Voldemort. One of the greatest wizards of all time, Voldemort's Elder Wand betrays him at the eleventh hour, as Harry was, in fact, the actual holder of the legendary wand. The wand's will enabled Harry to overcome his greatest enemy, rebounding the killing curse back onto Voldemort and slaying the villain who had plagued much of his life since he was born.
Baby Harry Deflects The Killing Curse Back Onto Voldemort
Lily Potter's Love For Her Son Saves Him Despite Her Losing Her Life In The Process
- Took Place In: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Flashbacks reveal what is perhaps the most significant scene in the entire Harry Potter series, involving the murder of Harry's parents. However, the death of Lily Potter would also lead to the initial downfall of Voldemort, as the Avada Kedavra spell he used on Harry rebounds back onto its user. This was caused by the protective barrier of love that his mother cast over Harry. This transformative moment would halt Voldemort's steady takeover of the wizarding world, only allowing him to stay alive thanks to the creation of his Horcruxes. It would be years before the dark lord would be able to return to the thick of the action.
The sacrificial protection Lily conjured as she died to save Harry was a rare and ancient form of magic that even caught one of the most powerful wizards in history off guard. This ultimate act of love set events into motion for Harry to avenge his parents' sacrifice many years later.
Dumbledore Vs Voldemort
Harry Potter's Most Epic Battle Between Two Masters Of Magic
- Took Place In: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
While he was once the one to bring a young and troubled Tom Riddle to Hogwarts, Dumbledore soon realized the grave mistake of introducing Tom to magic after the child began his studies. Tom eventually grew up to become Lord Voldemort, and a battle between two of the most powerful wizards of their era was inevitable. Their showdown at the Ministry of Magic was a palpable and otherworldly duel that the franchise has yet to match. In this riveting showdown, Voldemort displays his formidable power, summoning vicious fireballs and attacks that shatter all the glass panes within the Ministry of Magic.
Voldemort's mastery of magic is unparalleled. However, Dumbledore keeps up in their bout, showcasing exquisite defensive magic to nullify Voldemort's attacks, while occasionally going on the offensive, summoning a water ball to entrap the antagonist. Their showdown stands at the top of the franchise's action sequences, owing to the transcendent skill Dumbledore and Voldemort possess as wizards, with the visual spectacle being nothing short of breathtaking.
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