J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is full of mind-blowing twists and turns, but what is the most shocking twist that the series has to offer?
The Harry Potter series will be remembered forever for its amazing characters, enchanting settings and gripping storylines – but the series is also responsible for some of the most shocking plot twists in the fantasy/mystery genre. Whether its a villainous pet rat or a two-faced teacher, J.K. Rowling has proven herself to be more than capable of leaving readers in a state of shock, in fact, a large number of Harry Potter fans (including myself) are still struggling to cope with some of the series’ most shocking and heartbreaking twists.
For our latest post on The Blog That Must Not Be Named, we thought it would be fun to look back at some of the Harry Potter series’ most memorable and shocking twists, and rank the ten most shocking Harry Potter twists from worst to best! While the Harry Potter series has delivered plenty of twists, we’re focusing solely on the Harry Potter series for this ranking.
Check out our list below:
10 – Scabbers Is Peter Pettigrew
Book/Movie: Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
The reveal that Scabbers the rat, Ron Weasley’s beloved family pet, is actually Peter Pettigrew in disguise is one of the Harry Potter series’ most memorable and bizarre twists. After proving his innocence to Harry, Ron and Hermione, Sirius Black shockingly reveals his theory that Peter Pettigrew is very much alive – and has been living in his Animagus form for twelve years. In a shocking turn of events, Scabbers the rat is then transformed into a full-grown man.
9 – Ginny Weasley Opened The Chamber Of Secrets
Book/Movie: Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
The mystery surrounding the the Chamber of Secrets is one of the series’ best, so you can imagine the shock we felt in learning that Ginny Weasley had been the one to open the chamber. In one of the best twists that the series ever delivered, it is revealed that Tom Riddle slowly took control of Ginny Weasley via his diary, and used her to open the Chamber of Secrets and cause chaos at Hogwarts.
8 – Professor Moody Is Barty Crouch Jr.
Book/Movie: Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
Professor Moody quickly becomes one of the best professors Harry has ever had, so the revelation that he was actually Barty Crouch Jr. was unquestionably one of the series’ most shocking twists! After returning from the maze with Cedric’s body, Harry is swept back to the castle by Moody, however, it quickly becomes clear that something is very wrong. It is later revealed that this version of Moody is Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise, and the real Moody has been held captive all year.
7 – Tom Riddle Is Voldemort
Book/Movie: Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
The Harry Potter series is full of gripping mysteries, but the identity of Slytherin’s heir is without question one of the most memorable! At the end of Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, Harry enters the chamber in an attempt to save Ginny, only to learn that Tom Riddle is the heir of Salazar Slytherin. if that isn’t shocking enough for you, Tom quickly reveals that he is the preserved memory of the dark wizard now known as Lord Voldemort.
6 – Snape Is The Half-Blood Prince
Book/Movie: Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
J.K. Rowling made sure not to reveal the identity of the mysterious Half-Blood Prince until the very end of the sixth book, but boy was it worth the wait! In one of the series’ most shocking and best executed twists, it is revealed that Severus Snape, Harry’s least favourite Hogwarts professor and the man that murdered Dumbledore, is the Half-Blood Prince.
5 – Voldemort On The Back Of Quirrell’s Head
Book/Movie: Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone
When it comes to the biggest twists in the Harry Potter series, the first chapter of Harry’s journey has one of the most shocking! In the final moments of The Philosopher’s Stone, it is revealed that Professor Quirrell, not Snape as Harry, Ron and Hermione suspected, had been attempting to steal the Philosopher’s Stone. To make things even more shocking, Quirrell removes his turban to reveal that Lord Voldemort’s face on the back of his head.
4 – Snape Kills Dumbledore
Book/Movie: Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
In one of the series’ most shocking and heartbreaking twists, Albus Dumbledore is murdered by someone he trusted above anyone else…Severus Snape. Seeing that Draco Malfoy doesn’t have the strength to kill Dumbledore as instructed, Snape steps out of the shadows and with one horrifying word, assassinates the Hogwarts headmaster.
3 – Sirius Black Is A Good Guy
Book/Movie: Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
There are many shocking twists to be found in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, but the most memorable is without question the revelation that Sirius Black, who was believed to be Voldemort’s most loyal servant, was wrongly imprisoned for the murder of Peter Pettigrew. Even more shocking, it is revealed that Sirius is completely innocent – and only escaped Azkaban to protect Harry.
2 – Snape Isn’t A Villain
Book/Movie: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
The Deathly Hallows is full of memorable twists, but one of the most shocking was the revelation that Severus Snape had been a good guy all along. While viewing Snape’s memories in Dumbledore’s office, Harry learns that Snape had been deceiving Lord Voldemort the entire time – and protecting Harry because of the love he had for his mother, Lilly.
1 – Harry Is A Horcrux
Book/Movie: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
In what is undoubtedly the most shocking twist that the Harry Potter series has to offer, it is revealed that a piece of Voldemort’s soul latched itself to Harry the night his parents were murdered, creating a Horcrux that even Lord Voldemort was not aware of. In order to defeat Voldemort once and for all, Harry must allow himself – and the piece of Voldemort’s soul within him – to be destroyed.
Do you have a favourite twist in the series? Let us know in the comments section below this post or vote in the poll we’ve dropped below! You can also find The Blog That Must Not Be Named on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
The Blog That Must Not Be Named is a Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts fan blog, covering all corners of the Wizarding World! Launched in 2019, The Blog That Must Not Be Named offers the latest Wizarding World news, magical features and more!
These are so apt!! But for me, nothing beats but the fact that Snape was always on dumbledores side! Amazing list.
Great choice. Thank you so much, Nehal!