10 Harry Potter Moments You Never Knew Were Improvised

10. Harry Cricket!

Christopher Columbus delivered two saccharine-sweet helpings of the Potter franchise, helping the series find its feet with the Christmassy Philosopher's Stone, and giving it a head-start down its darker path with Chamber Of Secrets.

It was Columbus' direction that really gave the young actors the ground they needed to stand on, and helped them put in the best performances they possibly could. And, in that vein, it was his direction of the scene where Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) meet that helped provide a natural, honest and heart-warming introduction for two would-be lifelong friends.

Before Watson went into the scene in Harry and Ron Weasley's (Rupert Grint) carriage on the Hogwarts Express, Columbus told her to eschew any other lines and direction and just go with what she felt was Hermione's natural reaction to meeting the legendary boy wizard.

As such, she expressed her surprise and amazement with childlike wonder and coined a phrase that sadly didn't make any reappearances throughout the series - 'Holy cricket!' - all followed up with a stone-cold slice of sarcasm for Ron.

Oh, how the tables would turn...