10 Best Harry Potter Plot Twists

There were many factors that contributed to the success of the Harry Potter series. A tightly bound yet rich setting, an extensive list of distinctive personalities, and an accessible magic system were amongst the greatest of J.K. Rowling’s literary achievements with this franchise.

In terms of the plot, the Harry Potter stories were greatly influenced by the titans of detective fiction. Writers such as Margery Allingham, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, and Dorothy L. Sayers were all huge inspirations for Rowling.

Consequently, the Harry Potter books and movies were loaded with intrigue, and often felt closer to mystery stories than fantasy stories.

With such mysteries, there also came a significant number of plot twists. Whilst many of her influences were limited by the physics of the real world, Rowling’s winding narrative was forged in the magical setting she herself had created, allowing her to craft some truly wonderful plot twists…

There were many highlights of Harry and Hermione's adventures with time. Yet the best moment was undoubtedly the former’s realisation that it was he who had defeated the dementors.

Initially, Harry believed his father to have saved himself and Sirius. Though this seemed unlikely to be the case, the true identity of Harry’s saviour was certainly an intriguing enigma when reading The Prisoner of Azkaban.

By having Harry be the one to cast the Patronus Charm, Rowling exemplified for the first time just how magically gifted he was. Up until this point, Hermione had always been the standout student when it came to magical talent, but this particular moment demonstrated that Harry was in some ways the most powerful of the leading trio.

In this sense, the strength of this twist is not the unveiling of the truth itself, but rather what it signifies.