10 Harry Potter Moments That Were Worth the Wait (and Not in the Books)

1. Ron and Hermione's awkward handshake (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)

In the series' second installment, Harry and Ron defeat the Basilisk, a snake-like creature that preyed on the school's Muggle-born students. The characters' best friend, Hermione Granger, is also one of the Basilisk's petrified victims. Fortunately, the antidote to petrification is found at the end, and Hermione comes to the Great Hall to celebrate the victory and end of the school year with her two friends. She gives Harry a warm hug but hesitates to approach Ron — so she simply holds out her hand to him.

Ron and Hermione's awkward handshake is obviously a hint to the romantic feelings that will spark between the characters in the following parts of the story.

2. Harry and friends have fun in Gryffindor Tower (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

The third part of the Harry Potter franchise is full of many atmospheric details that were never mentioned in the book — remember, for example, the Hogwarts choir singing Double Trouble before the start of the Sorting Ceremony.

Another minor yet very sweet detail is Harry and his friends' get-together in Gryffindor Tower: that's the scene where the boys eat magic candy, and then Ron roars like a lion and Harry has smoke coming out of his ears. The everyday scene appears unimportant, but it contributes a lot to the film's magic and charm.

3. McGonagall teaches Ron to waltz (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

In the fourth movie, the students get to attend the Yule Ball, a formal Christmas celebration held during the Triwizard Tournament. In preparation for the event, Professor McGonagall finds out that not all students can waltz so she decides to teach a dance class of her own.

To the delight of Fred and George Weasley, the Transfiguration professor chooses their brother Ron as her dancing partner. The waltz scene is both awkward and hilarious and adds some humor to McGonagall's stern personality.

4. "Nice one, James!" (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)

In the fifth part's finale, Harry and his friends find themselves fighting Death Eaters in the Ministry of Magic, and members of the Order of the Phoenix come to help them. Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, enters battle against the Dark Lord's right-hand woman Bellatrix Lestrange, while at the same time, Harry attempts to disarm Lucius Malfoy.

When he succeeds, Sirius shouts, "Nice one, James!" — oblivious to the fact he's about to get hit by Lestrange's curse. Sirius' last words reveal that his tender attachment to Harry's father, James, with whom he must have fought many great fights.

5. Bellatrix Lestrange Attacks the Burrow (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

The creators of Harry Potter movies were obviously very fond of Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange: the character is involved in many more scenes in the movie compared to the book. One of the most memorable scenes is where Lestrange and the other Death Eaters attack the Weasleys' home, known as the Burrow. Bellatrix almost kills Harry and Ginny and sets the Burrow on fire, leaving the Weasley family homeless right before Christmas.

6. Harry Likes the Waitress (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

At the beginning of part six, grown-up Harry talks to a waitress at a London cafe. She agrees to meet him after work, but things don't go as planned: Professor Dumbledore really needs Harry's help.

By the next movie, the character forgets about the girl completely, which is a pity because the scene was kind of funny and revealed the more human side of Harry Potter: like any other teenager, he dreams of going on dates and falling in love.

7. Slughorn's account of Lily Evans (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

In the sixth movie, there is a scene where Professor Horace Slughorn tells Harry Potter about his mother, Lily Evans.

Her identity remained a mystery for most of the book and movie series, so with this digression from the source material, the film gives its viewers a better insight into the characters' personality: we learn that Harry Potter's mother was a promising and prominent witch and also get to see Slughorn as a very emphatic and vulnerable character who'd never knowingly help Tom Riddle.

8. Harry and Hermione Dance in the Tent (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1)

Harry and Hermione's dance to a Nick Cave composition is undeniably one of fans' favorite moments of the entire series.

It's surprising this or a similar scene was never mentioned in the book. Harry and Hermione are more alone than ever, they have a terrible ordeal ahead of them, and the victory is far from assured. But dancing in the tent, they manage to forget about their problems for a short while and just be teenagers.

9. Neville Blows Up the Hogwarts Bridge (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2)

In the book, Neville Longbottom has a brief duel with one of the Death Eaters on Hogwarts' Wooden Bridge.

The movie takes that scene to a whole new level of spectacle: with the permission of Professor McGonagall, Neville and his friends blow up the bridge and send thousands of Lord Voldemort's associates into the fiery chasm. In the end of the scene, Neville barely escapes the burning bridge and clings onto the remnants of the structure — just like a movie superhero would.

10. Harry Meets Professor Snape (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2)

When Harry meets Professor Snape in the Deathly Hallows book, he wears the invisibility cloak. In the movie, however, the character confronts the new Headmaster of Hogwarts in front of the entire school. The scene adds more contrast to the events in the story and showcases Alan Rickman's brilliant performance that reveals a new side of his character's personality.