Most Shocking Moment in the Series

[Loony_M]

Definitely Barty Crouch Junior being Moody in the forth book. When I re-read it before the fifth book came out I completely forgot about it again, so it shocked me twice!

[kittielove30]

I can't even remember what I thought when Mad-eye was really Barty Crouch Jr? For me the most shocking moments were Hedwig's, Fred's and Snape's deaths! Hedwigs just blew me away, that was the only time through the whole series I ever got a bit teary eyed reading something :'s

Also, Draco crying in the bathroom! That shocked me completely reading that for the first time, my gosh!

[improvkari]

I'm remembering back to reading GoF for the first time. The cup being a portkey really threw me - the grave yard scene was really scary for me! Shocked and scared, I had trouble falling asleep after reading that part!

[JordanBell]

Probably the flesh, blood and bone chapter, Harry being the owner of the Elder wand, and Wormtail's hand strangling him.

[skistar123]

If you mean shocking as in disturbing or frightening, to a 8 year old (oh was I really that young when I read it?!), the prospect of a giant snake than no one can see sneaking round and killing people was pretty shocking. I must have been a pretty sheltered child, because the second book was one of the scariest things I'd ever read!

As for shocking as if jaw dropping moments -
I think Neville killing the snake was shocking in a good way.
Harry and Ron's fight in book seven (which ultimately ended in Ron leaving for a while) was shocking because it was so unlike any fights they'd had before, and it left me with a feeling of complete hopelessness.

[XChosenOne5X]

It was for sure when DD was struck dead on top of the tower. I literally ran upstairs and started screaming. It was so very unexpected

[Dead Star]

The part in "The Prince's Tale" when Harry found out he had to die. Those two years between the releases of HBP and DH, I firmly believed that Harry was NOT a Horcrux, and that Jo would NOT kill him off. So when Dumbledore said in that chapter that Harry would have to die, I felt like I'd been pushed off a cliff. And then it dawned on me that he WAS a Horcrux, and how wrong I'd been, which contributed to the shock, as did the fact that Harry was my favourite character. As well, the books are from his perspective, so not only did I have my own reaction to this news to deal with, but his as well.


Other big shocks:

- When Snape killed Dumbledore. The funny thing is, I had been spoiled about that before the book was released, but I had completely forgotten about it the entire time I was reading the book. So when it happened, I thought "Did I read that right?!?!" and re-read that part a few times, especially as up til that point I had believed that Snape was one of the good guys.

- When we find out Lupin and Tonks were among the dead. My reaction was pretty much the same as Harry's, shock and disbelief.

- I was pretty shocked to find out in DH that Dumbledore wasn't a saint.

- I can't perfectly remember any particularly shocking moments when I read the first four books. I might have been surprised that Sirius was innocent in POA, and that Scabbers was Pettigrew. As well, I think I may have been shocked by Cedric's death, how he was killed off so casually: "Cedric was lying spread-eagled on the ground beside him. He was dead." I don't think I had expected that the series would take such a dark turn. I wish I had written down my impressions while reading the first four books, it was almost 10 years ago; I read them in the space of a few days and don't remember my reactions very well.

[Draconia_07]

- I would be shocked when Snape killed Dumbledore, but I read the 7th book first , then the 6th, and that was a biiig mistake XD. But if it had been otherwise, I would be definitely shocked.

- GoF movie and the Voldebaby scene. Just...God XD

- When Sirius died. I wasn't expecting that.

- When Hedwig died.

- Also when Snape died, I can't mention that really, it's too depressing for me ...

- When Dudley said in the DH: "Why isn't he coming with us?" - that was a shocker XD

[anniebbydoll123]

It was shocking to me that James tortured Snape when they were both at Hogwarts. I didn't expect that at all. I wasn't sure why Snape was nice yet oh so cruel to Harry, then it was clear after the pensieve incident. At the same time though, I understand that Snape was in love with Lily.

Dobby and Hedwig dying were very shocking for me.

[improvkari]

Quirrell having a face under that turban was pretty shocking and terrifying as an eleven year old! :eep:

[theprincestale7]

One of the most shocking moments for me was at the very end of the series when Harry explained that he was the true master of the Elder wand. We weren't exposed to harry's thought process that allowed him to come to that conclusion or many other hints so that was a big surprise! Another shocking moment was when it was realized that Snape was an incredibly brave, good character. I never would have guessed he had such a love for Lily.

[LionsDisciple]

This entirely depends on what you mean by "shocking." Do you mean the most unexpected reveal or solved mistery, the most shocking plot twist, the most shocking story direction?

Personally, the thing which shocked me more then anything was Dobby dying. Yeah, you sort of expected it with Dumbledore and even (to a lesser extent) Sirius, but Dobby...that hit me over the head pretty hard. I actually started crying, which I have never done before for a fictional character, and I had to leave the room because my mother and sister hadn't read it yet and I didn't want them asking anything and me spoiling anything for them.

But there were some other shocks too, of a different variety. Rita Skeeter being useful, Snape's past (well, not so much the one in DH, but the one in OotP definately, because I had already realized that he cared about Lily then), Sirius being a good guy (and then becoming one of the most beloved of all characters in the series), yeah there were a few things which got me pretty good.

[talt]

Originally Posted by improvkari

Quirrell having a face under that turban was pretty shocking and terrifying as an eleven year old! :eep:

And can you imagine what it would be like for Harry to really face that?

I guess the most shocking moment is finding out what happened to Neville's parents; in many ways it was far worse than anything that happened to Harry

[Draconia_07]

Originally Posted by theprincestale7

One of the most shocking moments for me was at the very end of the series when Harry explained that he was the true master of the Elder wand. We weren't exposed to harry's thought process that allowed him to come to that conclusion or many other hints so that was a big surprise! Another shocking moment was when it was realized that Snape was an incredibly brave, good character. I never would have guessed he had such a love for Lily.

Yes, I completely agree with you there. After I read the Prince's tale chapter, I thought: Than who could have been the true master of Elder wand?
I presumed someone who disarmed Dumbledore and thought it was Draco. Guess I was half right, tho.

[Astoria_]

I was really shocked at a lot of the characters she killed; Dobby, Fred, Hedwig, Snape, Bellatrix, Colin. I don't know of Dumbledore, if it was like a shock or just sad, cause he was pretty old already (as the wizarding world was discussing that issue already), so not sure if I was shocked or if it just made me teary eyed reading it (even though I am more of a Slytherin/Death Eater/dark side fan, it was still sad), don't remember. Well I guess they were talking about Dumbledore's age in the book too, I don't remember, I have only read it once, shortly before the movie came to theaters.

[Potter_fan]

Originally Posted by occlumency713

The death of Fred Weasley... although some argue it was forshadowed when George lost his ear, I never expected somebody like Fred to be lost; he was such an asset to the plot.

I honestly did not see Fred dieing because George lost his ear...I have said many times and stand by it today, If J.K. wanted to kill a Weasley it should of been Percy. I believe he was the least liked Weasley and would not be as missed, by the fans that is.

[NIrvanaFreak]

I agree with the fact that Percy wasn't well liked, though he did redeem himself later on in the series. However, if she had killed him off, would it have had much of an emotional impact? No, probably not. As he wasn't well liked, it wouldn't have bothered many readers...thus, she had to kill off a much more popular Weasley in order to get the corresponding emotional response. Since the uproar over killing either Ginny or Ron would have been too much, she had to opt to kill one of the twins. It sucked, but it made logical sense.

[Potter_fan]

but what about Charlie or Bill? They were liked as well. I would of preferred one of them dieing over Fred.

[tuxedocat]

Originally Posted by NIrvanaFreak

I agree with the fact that Percy wasn't well liked, though he did redeem himself later on in the series. However, if she had killed him off, would it have had much of an emotional impact? No, probably not. As he wasn't well liked, it wouldn't have bothered many readers...thus, she had to kill off a much more popular Weasley in order to get the corresponding emotional response. Since the uproar over killing either Ginny or Ron would have been too much, she had to opt to kill one of the twins. It sucked, but it made logical sense.

I agree, there had to be a death that would make a strong emotional impact on the Trio. Fred was also a member of the DA, along with Collin, and it was almost a given that a couple members of the DA would die in battle.

[SDaniel]

I started reading the books after watching the first six movies of the series, so I knew the main story of every book before I read it, therefore the things that happened in the first six movies didn't affected me as much as Fred's death did... maybe because I just couldn't imagine Fred dying...