Harry Potter, one of the most successful stories every created. Seven books, eight movies, and now a new spin-off movie serious called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Everyone who watched the movies knows the story of The Boy Who Lived and He Who Must Not Be Named, or they think they think they do. Truth is if you only watched the movies and you didn't read the books you missed so much of the story.
10 Important things you missed by only watching the movies (Warning: Spoilers ahead!)
1. The Tree and the Shrieking Shack
This was something I thought was really cool when I read the books, but it never made it's way into the movies. The Whomping Willow was planted when Lupin came to the school and was created as a passage to the shrieking shack for him to escape the school during the full moon. While both places were in the film, they never mentioned that they were there because of him.
2. The Map
The Marauders Map, which was used several times in the movies, was created by nonother than Harry's Father and Friends. They created the map for when they explored the castle and grounds at night.
3. Harry's Father
We all know Sirius Black is an animagus (dog) and Peter Pettigrew was one too (rat), but they never mention that James was one too! He could turn into a Stag. This all happened while at school so they could accompany Lupin while in his wolf form.
4. Neville Longbottom
Voldemort chose Harry as the person the person in the prophecy, he could have chosen Neville. The prophecy never stated a name, just a boy and a birthday. Neville birthday fell around the same time, but Voldemort underestimated his family and chose the Potter's boy instead.
5. Voldemort
Believe it or not, this was not his fault. His mother put a love potion on his father and when a child is conceived through a love potion the child is incapable of love. It's almost sad when you think about it.
6. Dobby
Dobby played a much bigger role in the book than he did in the movies. When he was freed he went to Hogwarts and ask for a job, which Dumbledore agreed to. In the Goblet of Fire he actually was the one that provided Harry with the Gilly Weed that he took from Snape.
7. S.P.E.W.
While on the subject of house elves, let's talk about S.P.E.W. In case you didn't know Hogwarts is pretty much run by house elves. Hermione did not like this one bit, so she created a group called S.P.E.W (Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare). She worked hard to set the house elves free, but unlike Dobby, most house elves do not like being set free but gladly serve their masters.
8. Dudley
In the movies, everyone knows Dudley as Harry's mean cousin, and in the books, he was too. What people might not know though is that in the end Dudley and Harry shake hands and put the past behind them.
9. Aunt Petunia
Aunt Petunia was Harry's annoying Aunt. In the movies, you know how much she tried to block out her out of her memory, but you might not know that it was really because of jealousy. She actually wrote letters asking to go to Hogwarts like her sister, but of course, she couldn't because she is a Muggle.
10. Dumbledore
This one was a surprise to me when I read the books. Dumbledore was once scared of going dark. He knew he had a lot of power and he struggled with this. He refused to be Minister of Magic because he did not know if he could handle being in the position.
So, what do you think? Find any of this surprising? There is still tons more information waiting for you in 7 books. If you consider yourself a Harry Potter fan, but have not read the books you don't know the whole story.
