30+ Hidden Messages We Never Noticed In The Harry Potter Movies

1. Voldemort Is Credited As 'He Who Must Not Be Named'

Image Source / Bored PandaAnd rightly so, as at this point we were all probably still too scared to call him by his real name. At this point, the actor was also a different one to Ralph Fiennes, who would of course take up the mantle in the fourth movie onwards and make the role his own. But this was when everyone felt a little bit more confident at saying the name...

2. Snape's Sends A Secret Message To Harry In Their First Potions Class

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We'll never forget the iconic moment that Harry first met Professor Snape in his class, and it's no surprise that Harry didn't know the answer to Snape's potions question: "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?' Hermione knows, of course, but does she also know the coded message? Asphodel is a flower symbolising a lily as well as demise, and wormwood references loss. He is sorry for Lily - Harry's mother's - death.

3. There's A Portrait Of Anne Boleyn In The First Movie

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You'll be forgiven for not paying too much attention to every portrait you see on the castle walls in the movies, but it's no surprise there'd be a cameo or two. In the very first movie, there's a portrait of the famous wife of Henry VIII - real life English king who had many wives - who was executed and accused of being a witch.

4. George Turns To Talk To Fred In Deathly Hallows Part 2 - After Fred Dies

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As if it isn't heartbreaking enough that Fred dies anyway, imagine being George and always having your twin by your side to turn to and tell the first thing that pops into your head. When Harry reveals he's actually alive in the final move, you can see George turn to tell someone beside him: Fred, who isn't there. Sob.

5. The Hilarious 'No Dragons Were Harmed' Disclaimer

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For a movie so filled with magical creatures, Goblet of Fire must have felt obliged to let us know that every creature involved was handled safely - including the dragons, of course. During the end credits of the fourth movie, you can see a 'Magical Disclaimer': 'No Dragons Were Harmed In The Making Of This Movie'. Good to know.

6. Professor McGonagall Apparently Won A Quidditch Trophy, Too - It's Displayed Next To James Potter's

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You might have mistook McGonagall's determination to beat Slytherin for her simply being an ambitious head of house and Quidditch lover - but it turns out that it extends to more than that, for McGonagall herself was a Quidditch player, and a good one, too: you can see her name on the trophy beside James Potter's in the cabinet in the first movie.

7. The Cafe Scene In Deathly Hallows Part 1 Reveals A Poster For Dan Radcliffe's Real-Life Play

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If you're a fan of Daniel Radcliffe, you may already know he was in a stage play called 'Equus', and alongside Uncle Vernon actor, Richard Griffiths. Well, if you look closely in this scene from Deathly Hallows Part 1 in the Muggle cafe, you can actually see a poster for the play on the notice board!

8. Did You Notice The WB Intro Turning Darker With Every Movie?

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All Harry Potter fans will know that every movie gets darker and darker in terms of content - with Voldemort's return and the Death Eaters being unveiled, the happy days of first year shenanigans seem in the past. But did you see the 'darkness' translated to the WB intro signs, too? Side by side, you can see how much darker they get as time goes on.

9. And Nagini Can Be Spotted In The Logo For The Fourth Movie, Too

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The fourth movie will always be remembered for immediately setting a different tone than any other - it's darker, more eerie, and that's already obvious even with just the WB sign and music. But if you look carefully, you can see another threat hidden in the intro's logo: Nagini the snake's scales can be seen slithering in the reflection of the letters.

10. There's A Wizard Version Of Cheerios Cereal Called Cheeri-Owls

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When you're creating a wizarding world, it's going to be a whole lot of fun to create wizard-versions of well known real-world items, and especially if they're great puns. For the Hogwarts breakfast table, you can spot a wizard cereal called Cheeri-Owls, as a shout out to a beloved 'muggle' and real-world breakfast cereal!

11. Harry's Cardigans In DA Meetings Were A Tribute To Professor Lupin

Image Source / Wizarding World

You may have not even noticed Harry's DA meeting attire in the fifth movie, because the uniform naturally changes from movie to movie, but there's a lot more meaning behind this one. Harry is seen wearing a cardigan over his shirt for the first time, and this was actually Daniel Radcliffe's idea: he thought that Harry would want to take inspiration from his favourite Defence teacher, Professor Lupin (aka, the cardigan king).

12. The Lead Of The Band Stone Roses Is Reading Stephen Hawking's Book In The Third Film

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If you're already famous and you're ever going to have a cameo in a hit movie franchise, then it's going to be one of the Harry Potter movies. There's so much potential for weird and wonderful background characters in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it fashion. If you're a rock fan, you may have noticed Ian Brown of the Stone Roses in Prisoner of Azkaban - and not only that, but he's reading A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking!

13. Voldemort's Horcruxes Are Foreshadowed With Seven Rocks On His Childhood Window

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We love a bit of foreshadowing, don't we? And when it comes to Voldemort's history, there's a lot of potential there. In the flashback scenes for the younger and unnerving Tom Riddle, you can spot a collection of rocks on his childhood windowsill. You might have quickly dismissed these as just some background noise, but if you count them, there are actually seven - the same amount of Horcruxes he goes on to make.

14. Hermione's Hair Is An Indicator Of How Long They've Been Searching For Horcruxes in Deathly Hallows Part 1

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Hermione's hair goes on a journey all of its own when it comes to all the Harry Potter movies - especially Goblet of Fire - but for Deathly Hallows Part 1, it actually took on a more major role. By comparing her hair length from the very first part to the end, you can see how long it's grown as an indication of how long they have been searching for Horcruxes.

15. Did You See Newt Scamander On The Marauder's Map?

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They probably didn't know that they were going to make another huge series of movies for Fantastic Beasts at this point, so it was presumably just a nice little Easter egg using a name from the world, but Newt Scamander's name can be seen on the Marauder's Map in the third movie, Prisoner of Azkaban.

16. In Deathly Hallows Part 2, Snape Is Helping McGonagall In The Fight Against Her

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It's a pinnacle moment when Snape, acting headteacher, is finally confronted by the Order - and none other than Minerva McGonagall. The pair share what looks to be an epic showdown before Snape flees, but if you look carefully, you can see that Snape actually makes McGonagall's spell rebound onto the Death Eaters standing behind him. Another sneaky move by the unsung hero.

17. A Gryffindor Scarf Can Be Seen Behind Snape In His Death Scene

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A lot of people have debated whether Snape should have been sorted into Gryffindor on account of his incredible bravery throughout the series - and even before it began. But what people forget is that you can be brave and still be a Slytherin - and Snape seems to capture the best traits of both. This is reflected in this scene, where the Slytherin is seen stood beside a Gryffindor scarf.

18. Voldemort's Robes Fade Each Time A Horcrux Was Destroyed

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It makes sense why Voldemort would look a little more worse for wear every time a piece of his soul was destroyed, but this also extended to his fashion choice, too. When we first see Voldemort, his robes are black, but as the movies go along - and as each Horcrux is destroyed - his robes become paler and greener, to give the impression he is fading.

19. The Way The Main Trio Tie Their Scarves In The First Movie Is A Reflection Of Their Personalities

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Harry, Hermione and Ron may have the same scarves, but the way they tie them is certainly different. In the first movie, we see a reflection of their personalities: Hermione's is neat and tidy, of course, while Harry's is thrown half loose, and Ron's is laying completely unwrapped. You can also tell a lot about them by the way they tie their school ties, too!

20. The Fate Of Gilderoy Lockhart Is Revealed In A Post-Credit Scene For The Second Movie

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Did you stick around for the post-credit scene of The Chamber of Secrets? The famous Gilderoy Lockhart is known for his riveting series of books based on real life tales - or what we think to be real life, until it turns out he stole the experiences - and memories - of great wizards. In the post-credit scene, it's revealed Lockhart is in a straight jacket with a new book titled 'Who Am I?'. Apt.

21. In The First Movie, Harry Is Immediately Able To Keep Track Of The Snitch When Wood Isn't

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Well, there's a reason he was chosen for Seeker for the Gryffindor team, after all. When Harry has his first encounter with the golden snitch in the first movie, when team captain Wood releases it from the crate, Wood immediately struggles to keep track of it, while Harry is naturally able to track its every move.

22. You Can See Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban Tattoo On His Neck

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It was great to see the consequences of slippery Lucius Malfoy's actions catch up with him when it came to the later movies, and one of the best ways this was revealed was through his clearly deteriorating appearance. Usually so sleek and clean, Lucius definitely looks worse for wear in the final two movies, and you can even now spot his Azkaban tattoo on his neck.

23. Mexican Director Alfonso Cuarón Included A Tribute To His Heritage In The Third Movie

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If you're a big time director, why wouldn't you give a shout out to your heritage while creating one of the most well-known movie franchises of all time? The image of an eagle eating a snake is a reference to the Mexican flag - and in the third movie, Prisoner of Azkaban, you can spot a courtyard fountain statue of an eagle doing just that.

24. In The First Movie, Aunt Petunia Is Seen Dying Dudley's Old Clothes For Harry

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It's made a big deal in the books about how Harry always receives Dudley's cast-off clothes. In the movies, it's clear Harry has old clothes which are far too big for him, but it might not be too obvious that they actually used to belong to his cousin, Dudley. But in the first movie, you can see Aunt Petunia using a big steaming pot to dye Dudley's old clothes for Harry's use.

25. The Ministry Of Magic's Telephone Code Spells MAGIC

Image Source / Harry Potter Wiki

Because of course it does. If you're trying to think of the perfect telephone entry code to a magical place, then of course M-A-G-I-C is going to spring to mind - which is exactly what 6-2-4-4-2 reveals in regard to the public telephone box Mr Weasley and Harry use to access the ministry in the fifth movie/book.

26. One Of The Words On The Weasley Family Clock Is 'Prison'

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Points for guessing which two Weasleys are most likely to end up there... But of all the words on the Weasley family clock, you might have missed that prison is actually on there! Though, of course, the most terrifying inclusion on the clock has to be mortal peril - and even more scary to think every hand must have been pointing to that one during the final movie,

27. Goblet Of Fire Reveals The Deathly Hallows Symbol Before We Even Know What It Is

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This one is very easily missed, and you wouldn't have even known what it was at the time of watching the fourth movie. But look closely, and in the cabinet to the left, you will see a triangle construction with a ball in the middle and a straight line supporting it up. A clear reference to the cloak, resurrection stone and elder wand symbol we now all now know.

28. The Bartender In The Third Movie Makes A Bottle Disappear

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Apparently the most interesting place to look in the Harry Potter movies is in the background, and apparently the best of that is also in a wizarding pub like the Leaky Cauldron. As well as having a famous rock frontman reading a Stephen Hawking novel, you can also spy the bartender in the background innocently cleaning a table - before making a bottle disappear (as if by magic).

29. One Of The Pieces From The Giant Chess Game In The First Movie Can Be Seen In The Room Of Requirement

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The giant chess board from the first movie is one of the most iconic moments of the franchise, and a pinnacle moment for the film itself. The chess pieces were terrifying in their own right - least of all with the threat of being knocked out or killed by one of their giant chess-weapons. You might not have given much thought to what happened to the pieces after the game in the first film, but you can spot the white queen herself in the Room of Requirement in Deathly Hallows Part 2.

30. In The First Movie, Muggle School Children Can Be Seen Wearing Green As They Pass The Reptile House - A Nod To Slytherin

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It's strange to think now of anything so ordinary as a zoo in a Harry Potter movie, but this is the moment it all began. But before Harry even begins to talk to a large python in the reptile house, you can spot a nod to the Slytherin colours of green on the muggle children's school uniform passing the sign for the reptile house.

31. The Beauxbatons Love To Dance, So Much So They're Caught Doing The Macarena Before Task 3

imagesource/insiderRight before the third task starts in the Goblet of Fire, the Beauxbatons girls are doing the Macarena. It was actually the cast just joking around, but the producers decided to just leave it in.

32. Mad-Eye Moody's Son Is Actually In The Movie

imagesource/hogwartsbrasilBrendan Gleeson who plays Mad-eye Moody is Dominic Gleeson's father (Bill Weasley). They only shared one scene together in the film though in the Dursleys front room when Harry's allies are all getting ready to sneak into the Ministry of Magic!

33. "I open at the close."

imagesource/harrypotterfandomThe first Harry Potter book was published back in 1998 which was the same year the final battle of Hogwarts was fought. Is it a coincidence that the snitch Dumbledore left for Harry read "I open at the close...".

34. What's Going On Here?

imagesource/redditIf you look closely at these end credits, somethings going on in the far corner on the bottom left. At the end of Prisoner of Azkaban, the Marauder's Map shows the footsteps being traced in the halls of Hogwarts at the bottom left, you see two footsteps with 1 pair spread around the other. Dirty buggers.

35.  The Yellow Pages Made An Appearance In Dumbledore's Office

imagesource/pintrestDumbledore's office is full of old books, literally thousands if you can remember. These books were actually old yellow pages & address books that were rebinded and made to look like old books. What a boring job that must have been!

36. THAT Awkward Hug

imagesource/twitterRemember that extremely awkward hug between Voldemort and Draco? You know the one we're talking about. The one so awkward it made your toes curl. Well, Ralph Fiennes improvised the hug with Tom Felton and the awkward reaction was kept in the film.

37. Harry's Lantern Was A Bit Of A Fire Hazard

imagesource/youtubeThe lantern Harry uses in the Restricted Section of Hogwarts is actually fake. However, in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, it states you're not allowed to bring flames into the 500 year old library. Hence why CGI was used to make the lantern look alight.

38. What Did Neville Forget?

imagesource/PNGimageIn the Sorcerer's Stone, we see Neville receives Remembrall (who wouldn't want one of these) in this scene, he can't remember what he's forgotten, but since he's the only student in the hall not wearing his robe, it's more than likely...you guessed it, his robe!

39. Harry Potter Snooping In Tom Riddle Diary

imagesource/boredpandaWhen Harry is just about to read Tom Riddles diary, he's in a candlelit room, however, when he's in the actual diary, everything is black and white, yet we can still see the candle light flickering on his body.

40. The Title Of 'The Crimes Of Grindelwald' Contain The Deathly Hallows

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41. Gilderoy Lockhart's Hair, Or Should I Say Wig?

imagesource/insiderGilderoy is known for his fancy clothing and luscious locks, but who actually knew he wore a wig. His hair was actually a wig! In the scene where Harry confronts him with Ron, we can see his wig on a stand on the corner of his desk as he is trying to eascape.

42. The Big Giveaway About Professor Quirrell

imagesource/redditIn the first movie, The Sorcerer's Stone, when Professor Quirrell has his back turned to him, giving away the first clue about Professor Quirrell's other face. Later in the movie, we find out Voldemort is actually on the back of Quirrel's head meaning he was facing Harry when his scar was burning.

43. Molly Weasley's Magical Clock Had The Option Of "Prison"

imagesource/teenvogueIn The Chamber of Secrets, the clock has grey hands and is covered in family names and photographs. The clock is yellow ad surrounded by a piece of parchment with red text on. The locations are Garden, School, Home, Dentist, Prison, Lost, Quidditch Travelling and Mortal Peril.

44. The Password To Dumbledore's Office

imagesource/insiderIn the second movie, The Chamber of Secrets, we know that Sherbet Lemon is the password to get into Dumbledore's Office. Then in the Half-Blood Prince, the candy's can be seen on Dumbledore's desk. It was known that Dumbledore loved these sweets, so much so that when he and Professor McGonagall went to leave Harry at the Dursleys, he offered McGonagall one, to which she replied it was inappropriate.

45. Petunia And Snape

imagesource/looperOnly a fact that readers of the books will understand, but a big give away to Lily and Snape's friendship was when Petunia says "I heard that awful boy telling her about them years ago."

Fans know this was Snape Petunia overheard talking about the dementors, clearly hinting about Lily & Snape's friendship.

46. Dumbledore's Triumph

imagesource/youtubeWhen Harry explains to Dumbledore that Voldemort had used Harry's blood to resurrect himself, for a split second we see a look of triumph on Dumbledore's face. This was actually a huge clue to how the series was going to end. Dumbledore once said Harry & Voldemort were very similar in many ways, because Voldemort transferred part of his soul to Harry and then using Harry's blood, he created a double connection between them both which meant he was unable to defeat Harry, leading to his own demise!

47. The Mirror

imagesource/mintThe mirror in which Harry obsesses over - as it shows him the family he never got to know - sounds like it's named after something ancient and Latin. However, it's much simpler than that, Erised, is actually "Desire" spelled backward.

48. Wormtails lovely little gift

imagesource/animoappsWhen Wormtail helps restore Voldemort back to his human form by sacrificing his own hand, Voldemort gives him a new silver on in replacement and says 'may your loyalty never falter'. So fast forward to 3 years later, when Wormtail hesitates to kill Harry, the magical gift turns back onto him. The silver hand with the spell was a trap intended to eliminate Wormtail if he ever betrayed Voldemort.

49. The Weird & Wonderful Place Names

imagesource/youtubeJK Rowling is known for loving twisting the words for things in his books. "Redditor YourRaraAvis points out that the creepy marketplace of Knockturn Alley sounds like the word "nocturnally" meaning "at night" or "in the dark." and that Sirius's old gloomy house called Grimmauld Place sounds like "grim old place."

50. Moaning Myrtle Murdered

imagesource/wizardingworldLong before Harry realised Tom Riddle was actually Voldemort, he did a little snooping in his diary only to find that he once won an award for services to the school.  Redditor Honastiago laughed when he reread a line from Ron, saying "Maybe he murdered Myrtle; that would've done everyone a favor."

In the 2nd movie, we see harry opening the Chamber of Secrets, by figuring out that Myrtle was murdered by Slytherin's monster.