First introduced in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the Hogwarts Express is how the likes of Harry, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and other students would get to Hogwarts — boarding on Platform 9¾ to avoid prying Muggle eyes. The train has become somewhat iconic in the years since its debut appearance, with fans from all over the globe taking pictures at the King's Cross station platform in London.
Warner Bros did a good job at bringing the train to the big screen for the movie adaptations. However, not every single scene from the books could be re-created. Which were left out?
Harry Shocks Ron
In The Sorcerer's Stone, Harry and Ron meet for the very first time. The pair exchange brief words on Platform 9¾, with the Boy Who Lived struggling to find his way to Hogwarts after being abandoned by Rubeus Hagrid. The boys soon strike up a conversation on the Hogwarts Express and it's the start of a blossoming friendship poised to stand for many years to come.
What's not shown, however, is Ron's stunned reaction to Harry using Lord Voldemort's name out loud. The young redhead can't believe his fellow first-year has the courage to mutter the infamous name, given that the Dark Lord was responsible for the death of Harry's parents. The Chosen One then explains that because he wasn't brought up knowing it was frowned upon, he has no problem with saying it.
Scabbers Bites Goyle
Scabbers the rat appears in the first Harry Potter movie, cameoing when Ron attempts to turn him yellow. Alas, fans were unfortunately deprived of the chance to see the creature, who is actually a wizard named Peter Pettigrew, get involved in a confrontation.
In the book, Scabbers bites Gregory Goyle after a skirmish breaks out on the train ride to Hogwarts. This is where Draco Malfoy offers Harry friendship, instead of that scene happening in the Great Hall.
Draco Trolls Ron Over Gold
The Weasley family is rather poor, something that sees them endure much mockery and disdain over the eight movies and seven books in the series. However, they strike gold — quite literally — in The Prisoner of Azkaban when they win 700 Galleons. The loveable redheads then travel to Egypt in celebration, making the front page of the Daily Prophet in the process.
Malfoy does his best to tarnish the joyous occasion, though, by trolling the Weasleys over their lack of money on the train journey into Hogwarts. He soon calls off his verbal assault after noticing Remus Lupin, their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, asleep on the carriage. Probably the best way to avoid getting detention before school has even started.
Sirius' Letter And Pidwidgeon
At the end of the Prisoner of Azkaban book, Ron obtains a replacement for Scabbers in the form of Pigwidgeon the owl. Sirius Black gifts him the pet as an apology for mangling his leg. And he also pens a rather sweet letter promising to be there for Harry throughout the rest of his life, having been absent for so many years.
Sirius also includes the Hogsmeade permission slip, giving his consent for Harry to visit the wizarding village — and sparing him from using the Invisibility Cloak.
Draco And Durmstrang
Draco Malfoy loves to brag. In fact, that's probably one of his most defining traits as a character. And, in the Goblet of Fire book, the Slytherin student is overheard boasting that he very nearly attended Durmstrang instead of Hogwarts — in a turn of events that would have probably prevented him and Harry Potter from ever crossing paths.
Malfoy reveals his mother, Narcissa, actually stopped that move from taking place because she didn't want her darling child to be too far from home. It's interesting to think how Malfoy's life could have turned out differently if she hadn't intervened and his father, Lucius, had got his way instead.
Giving Up Galleons
Fans of solely the movies can be forgiven for thinking that, if you win the Triwizard Tournament, you scoop a big shiny cup. But that isn't the case, with victorious candidates instead scoring a huge purse of 1000 Galleons. Harry is given this in its entirety following the heartbreaking death of Cedric Diggory, only to then give it all up to Fred and George Weasley shortly before they travel home.
This is how the twins are able to bankroll their successful business, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. For viewers not privy to that information, their sudden success could be interpreted as a plothole. Instead, they owe everything they make to Harry — who also demands they buy Ron some better, more stylish dress robes.
Rita Skeeter's Secret
Rita Skeeter doesn't get nearly as much screentime as she should during the Goblet of Fire movie. The Daily Prophet reporter is a far more prominent and loathsome figure in the book of the same name, making Harry and his friends' lives miserable by concocting false report after false report. Fortunately, in the end, Hermione gets her revenge.
She drops a huge bombshell by revealing Rita is actually an Animagus capable of turning into a beetle, which is why she's able to gather such substantial scoops. The journalist is then banned from writing anything for a whole year and is forced to play ball to avoid going to Azkaban for failing to .
Ron And Hermione's Snub
Harry is in a bad place at the beginning of the Order of the Phoenix book and movie. But one thing the blockbuster doesn't cover is the issue of prefects, with the Boy Who Lived left feeling hurt and overlooked when Albus Dumbledore gives the prestigious honor to Ron and Hermione instead.
In the novel, Harry's mood is worsened when Ron and Hermione are forced to sit away from him on the Hogwarts Express. Harry finds himself sharing a carriage with Ginny, Neville, and Luna Lovegood, the latter of whom he meets for the first time. Draco Malfoy of course pops by, bragging that he's been made a prefect and wasting no time in abusing his new privileges.
Confronting The Dursleys
Just as Harry gets off the Hogwarts Express at the end of his fifth year, he's left stunned when he sees Alastor Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley waiting for him. The quartet sticks up for the Chosen One by having a stern word with the Dursleys, who are loitering nearby.
They threaten the loathsome family, informing them they'll be paying them a visit should they hear any stories about Harry being mistreated. It's a sweet moment, especially given the death of Sirius Black shortly beforehand, and this is something that should have definitely been included in the movies.
Ginny's Insight
Ginny Weasley is a member of the Slug Club in the Half-Blood Prince movie. However, that film doesn't explain why she's actually picked out by Horace Slughorn. The book does, though, and there's a pretty amusing explanation.
Ginny is seen using a Bat-Bogey Hex on Zacharias Smith by Slughorn, who is then so impressed he decides to enlist her. There's an awkward first meeting for the group on the Hogwarts Express, instead of in the Potion Master's study, and Harry isn't actually happy with the whole experience. Given how everybody loves talking about him, it's certainly easy to see why.
