Most Shocking Moment in the Series

[JamesWasAChaser]

JK is the best at plot twisters and cliffhangers. I guess the most schooling would be...
1. Finding out Scabbers is Peter Pettigrew
2. Dumbledore's death
3. Snape's death
4. Fred's death
5. Sirius' death
6. Remus' death
7. Bathilda Bagshot being Nagini

Wow, okay, I have a lot. :3 Yup, my copies of the last 3 books are trashed. xD I threw it across the room after the above deaths (minus Snape, I just didn't see that coming). If you'll excuse me, I must go fix my action figures of Harry, Ron, Hermione, Pigwidgeon, Hedwig, and Crookshanks.

[Th3Phoenix89]

Originally Posted by LoonyForMoony

I saw a now-locked thread created right after Deathly Hallows was published, inquiring which was the most shocking moment in the final book. However, now that all of the books have been out for a while, it's easier for everyone to look at the series as a whole; and I thought I'd ask the question as applied to the entire series. So, what moment in the seven books shocked you most at the time, or even to this day? I mean anything from raised eyebrows over a "mature" moment you weren't expecting, to feeling like you'd been punched in the gut after some shocking revelation.

For me, I think it would have to be the Avada Kedavra on top of the tower; I didn't become a fan until all of the books had been published, so I had vaguely heard that Dumbledore died. However, I didn't expect it until the middle/end of book seven, so the moment was just... . Totally unexpected.
Another one is the Voldemort-apparition in Kings Cross; that's not the same kind of shocking as Dumbledore's death, but for me it was pretty gut-wrenching. I mean, a flayed baby! I know what it's representing and all, but the fact that it's a baby kind of turns my stomach.... The entire Flesh, Blood, and Bone chapter in Goblet of Fire is pretty sickening too... she uses the same baby imagery for Voldemort's pre-rebirth body, and it's hard for me to read. (It's interesting that JK herself also finds it quite disturbing; she's mentioned in several interviews that the idea of Voldemort's "almost fetal" appearance really freaked her out, even as she was writing the scene.)

So... what moments shocked you the most?

Most shocking moment for me was when Dambledore died

[GatheringOwls]

It's probably already been said but Rita Skeeter being an unregistered animagus.

I think all of the main shocks for me were in the first four books before I joined websites like this one and started picking apart everything to find out what happened next. Although a lot of the plot twists and events weren't predicted, a lot of them were discussed and it sort of made the impact more of a 'Yes1 I knew it!' rather than 'OMG!'

[KadyWeasley]

Without doubt the most shocking moment for me was Dobbys death, I really don't know why, but it really hit me hard. The other moments that came close are more like shocking plot twists, for example, the discovery of Snapes true identity and the true master of the Elder Wand (although I still can't say I fully understand that bit, despite extensive reading around the subject!)

[GryffSolider]

Originally Posted by GrimeldaDursley

Well the underage ones would have to leave anyway, or were supposed to. That leaves some sixth and seventh years who could have stayed. But in my opinion Pansy's big ole mouth ruined any chances fro any of them to stay, even if they wanted to. Also, think about it, the upperclassmen seemed to be made up of mostly Death Eater's kids anyway. Or at least those who sympathized with Voldemort's side.

To have stood up and took the right way would have possibly been a death sentence for the student and his/her family. Not exactly the most honorable thing, but a practical one. A dead Slytherin wouldn't do anyone any good would they?

What shocked me was that none were mentioned coming back except for Slughorn. I can't believe that they were all bad.

I gotta disagree with you there, the impracticable thing to do was leave. The upperclassman of Slytherin, or all the houses were adults, very capable of doing the right thing, regardless of their parent allegiances and ideologies.

[Purrth]

I recall sucking in a breath and shedding a tear for Hedwig. Like a PP said, it happened so suddenly and unexpectedly, the death of an innocent.

Sirius, my heart broke for Harry for what he almost had before it was taken away again.

Fred really saddened me too

The one that has never left me though was Snape. I just found it so bitterly unfair that he was used and abused and fought so hard, staying ahead of the game for more than 20 years to have such a horrific, painful death. I am still not over it!

[chommy]

Dumbledore's death, hands down.

[BlueHarvest]

The deaths of Fred, Lupin and Tonks were quite shocking. Fred's, because he was someone I hadn't expected to die at all. I thought he'd always be with George, laughing, joking and being a bad influence on Harry's children. Lupin and Tonks, imo, should have died in front of Harry, if at all. Merely finding their bodies in the great hall seemed somewhat anticlimactic to me, and I can't help getting the feeling that the only reason JK killed off Lupin was so he'd show up with James, Lily and Sirius when Harry used the resurrection stone.

Another shocking moment for me was when Harry declared himself the true wielder of the Elder Wand. I'd completely missed any hints leading up to this, and couldn't help thinking 'smartarse' while I pictured Harry grinning triumphantly and wondering how the hell he'd figured all that out while I remained completely oblivious.

Dumbledore's death also, despite the internet spoiling that for me years before I'd even read the books. I'd been expecting some long, drawn out duel between Snape and Dumbledore, not for Snape to simply use the killing curse on a defenseless Dumbledore. The events of DH did explain this, which was a shock in itself. I was convinced DD was wrong about Snape, and he'd been spying on him for Voldemort. Like Harry I'd developed a burning hatred for Snape, and discovering the truth, that Dumbledore had ordered Snape to kill him instead of Draco, for Snape to take over as Headmaster to protect the school from the Death Eaters while masquerading as one, was simply the most shocking, yet heartwarming moment in the whole series.

[PotterFreak0515]

I'm going to have to go with the Remus/Tonks reveal at the end of HBP. There I was, distraught over Dumbledore's death, when all of a sudden I'm reading this drawn out love confession, finding out that the reason Tonks has been depressed all year was because some guy wouldn't date her. I thought it was pointless, ruined Tonks' character for me, and took away from Dumbledore's death. I know it was supposed to bring home the point that Dumbledore wanted everyone to love each other, but I think Tonks acted like an annoying teenager.

[Reid]

Return of Voldemort.

[GeraldineLune]

I remember my eyes enlarging as I read that Harry had to let Voldermort kill him, as he was a horrocrux himself (say I remember that correctly! It was too long since I read the books from first to last page, so I may have jumbled it up).
“For neither can live while the other survives.” The prophecy goes and what it was really saying was that Harry had to die. I needed to re-evalute my whole comprehension of the meaning of the prophecy.
I thought the final chapters of Deathly Hallows was an emotional turmoil and you were struck by how clever it all was.
I also remember that Dobby's death seemed to emerge out of the blue, for me, as I suddenly find myself on that sentence declaiming it.

[alienfrommars]

I know it will sound really stupid what I will say considering everyone is talking about big storylines but finding out that Mrs Figg new Dumbledore actually made me gasp at the thought of her looking over Harry all these years and not saying anything. I knew she was mentioned in passing throughout the books but when she spoke to harry to tell him to keep his wand out I was really shocked!!
I think by the 7th book I expected nearly everyone to die, and actually thought Harry would, so I was prepared for everything and didnt get any shocks in the last couple of books. Apart from the fact Snape killed Dumbledore..

Originally Posted by Purrth

The one that has never left me though was Snape. I just found it so bitterly unfair that he was used and abused and fought so hard, staying ahead of the game for more than 20 years to have such a horrific, painful death. I am still not over it!

I totally agree with this. I think he was one of the most important characters throughout the whole of the series, without him I dont think Dumbledore would know half the stuff he knew about Voldemort.
Snape needs more credit than he got considering he was able to lie through his teeth to voldemort for so many years, he did this to protect Harry and didnt care about the fact everyone hated him and mistrusted. Being able to do that for so many years really does show how much he was in love with lily and the promise he made to Dumbledore he never broke.

[Erinacchi]

Originally Posted by JamesWasAChaser

JK is the best at plot twisters and cliffhangers. I guess the most schooling would be...
1. Finding out Scabbers is Peter Pettigrew
2. Dumbledore's death
3. Snape's death
4. Fred's death
5. Sirius' death
6. Remus' death
7. Bathilda Bagshot being Nagini

These are pretty much those that shocked me, too. Also Hedwig and Dobby's deaths were shocking.
And the scene where Voldemort returns (in Goblet of Fire).

[AMAC]

Snape killing Dumbledore. I was devastated that Dumbledore was dead and that after trusting in DD's opinion Snape was evil afterall. (at the time snape was evil as far as everyone but him and DD were concerned) I remember reading that part and in my head thing **** this is when we find out once and for all whether Snape is evil or not.

[LillyColak]

snape killing dumbledore wasn't so shocking to me i pretty muched guessed that that wouldn happen, but i found him and cho shocking more than anything!! dude that was random as dust!

[MerryLore]

Originally Posted by JamesWasAChaser

JK is the best at plot twisters and cliffhangers. I guess the most schooling would be...
1. Finding out Scabbers is Peter Pettigrew
2. Dumbledore's death
3. Snape's death
4. Fred's death
5. Sirius' death
6. Remus' death
7. Bathilda Bagshot being Nagini

All these, plus

8. Dobby's death
9. Hedwig's death
10. Dumbledore's backstory

[TheScribbler]

For me, Harry finding out that he has to sacrifice himself. That hit me so hard. I wasn't a part of the fandom before DH came out, so I didn't become aware of all the theories until after I had read the book. So yeah, that was totally unexpected for me.

[slytherin001]

I had my fair share of shocked moments when reading the series, but I'd have to say the most shocking thing for me was Fred's death. Like a previous poster stated, I just always imagined Fred and George being the best of chums for the rest of their lives, being a great source of laughter and mischief. I don't know, I guess I just always thought Fred and George and their sense of humor were immune to everything else going on around them. Childish, I know, but I remember in HBP when the Weasley's, Harry and Hermione were in Diagon Alley, and everything looked so desolate save for the twins' joke shop. I suppose I forgot that they were indeed mortal beings and could perfectly fall subject to death and injury. George getting his ear hacked off was a bit of a shock, but his ability to create humor out of the situation lessened my shock substantially. I just remember rereading Fred's death over and over, I couldn't believe it. That and seeing Tonks and Lupin's dead bodies in the Great Hall just came so out of left field for me.

[mstrcolm]

Difficult question as they're were quite many - I think that Snape killing Dumbledore was pretty high up, especially the way it happened, I had a small speculation that Dumbledore might have died sometime in the series, I knew that Harry wouldn't be protected by Dumbledore forever so in order for that to happen he had to be taken out.

The last few chapters with Dumbledore were very dark, like the cave where he suffered immensely and then the lightning struck tower where he seemed to have begged Snape not to kill him

[EmmaFernandez]

Snape killing DD wasn't expecting that

Sirius as well i had a little cry after that one

And Snapes death just for the Elder wand