Continuity mistake: In the first Divination scene, Prof. Trewlaney reads Neville's cup then puts it down onto a saucer. However, in the next shot, Neville picks it up from the tabletop. (00:30:00)
Continuity mistake: When the ghost comes through the window on his horse we see him riding into the hall before the headless ghost comes through the window and pursues the first ghost. Then it cuts from inside the hall and we see the first ghost come through the door again. By this time it should be the second ghost coming through the door, not the first. (00:37:15)
Continuity mistake: In the Shrieking Shack, Snape enters the room brandishing his wand at Lupin and Black, and both Lupin and Black back away from Snape. Lupin and Black both lean back on the big piano that's in the room. Yet when the shot changes Lupin is still backing away from Snape, and neither Black or Lupin are in front of the piano, let alone leaning back on it. (01:29:20)
Continuity mistake: The position of the pile of books next to the 'Monster Book of Monsters' book changes between shots. The top one moves quite noticeably, and there is no violent shaking between these shots. (00:14:25)
Continuity mistake: On the Knight Bus, as Stan Shunpike holds the newspaper in his hands the position of the hat on his head changes in subsequent shots. (00:10:50)
Continuity mistake: After Fred and George hand over the Marauder's Map to Harry, he looks down and spots Dumbledore pacing in his study, though in this shot Harry does not actually look at the upper right corner of the map, where Dumbledore's study is located. (01:00:05)
Continuity mistake: When Harry and Ron are looking at the clipping from Egypt the clipping lies on the table. Its position changes in the shot when the Weasleys arrive. (00:16:15)
Continuity mistake: When Potter is messing with Malfoy and the other two kids outside the Shrieking Shack, as Potter drags down the cap on one of the kids, you can see the kid's scarf is suddenly tied. It wasn't tied in the earlier shot, and Potter could not have tied it that fast. (01:00:00)
Continuity mistake: When Harry is dragging Malfoy by his legs the snow on Malfoy's cloak change between the shots. (01:00:15)
Continuity mistake: When Harry arrives at Lupin's office the tall dark ornate chair sits directly in front of the corner of Lupin's desk, with one of its chair legs right beside the desk leg. However, in the wide shot when Lupin explains that he resigned, the chair is much further away. Then after Lupin leaves, when Harry walks towards the door, the chair is beside the desk again. (02:16:10)
Continuity mistake: When Harry and Hermione are back in time and hiding in the woods. Notice that Hermione has a bruise/sore on the bottom corner of her lip that keeps appearing and disappearing.
Continuity mistake: When Potter comes down the stairs with his trunk, the strap on the trunk is bent backwards. When it cuts it lies normally on the trunk. (00:06:25)
Continuity mistake: In the Time-Turner scene, when Hermione says, "Malfoy's coming," it shows her starting to jump through the archway before Harry. In the next shot, it shows Harry coming through first.
Continuity mistake: In Lupin's office, the chair, vase on the floor, etc., between the window and fireplace significantly change positions. Noticeable when Lupin says, "This time tomorrow the owls will start arriving..." then continues, "Dumbledore has already risked enough on my behalf," to the close-up when he magically packs his belongings in the trunk and thereafter. (02:06:40)
Continuity mistake: During CoMC class, after Hagrid coughs, says, "Ta da!" and gestures toward Buckbeak, there is a shot of the students and Hermione's Monster Book of Monsters lies open on the huge rock. In the next close-up of Hermione, her book is closed and partially buckled. When Ron asks, "Hagrid...what is that?" her book lies open again. Books lying near Hermione's change in consecutive shots as well, including the one held by the girl beside Neville. (00:33:20)
Continuity mistake: When Harry first meets the Minister of Magic in the Leaky Cauldron, and he is being reprimanded for running away "considering the state of things," the Minister places his hands on the back of a chair. His hands change position from shot to shot. (00:13:30)
Continuity mistake: When Stan Shunpike begins, "Welcome to the Knight Bus emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard...," in Harry's close-up the lamppost is directly behind Harry. However, in the shot from behind Stan when Harry says, "I fell over," the post is about 6 ft away, to Harry's left. (00:08:25)
Continuity mistake: When Harry is about to pass out and says "Sirius", he says it in two breaths (Siri-us). The second time, when Harry and Hermione are watching this same exact scene occur in time, he says it in one breath (Sirius).
Continuity mistake: While Harry is in Lupin's office, Lupin's coat, which lies on a trunk, changes its position multiple times, as does the trunk. (02:06:30)
Continuity mistake: When Harry picks up 'The Monster book of Monsters' you see him holding his right hand at the top at the book. When it cuts to a closeup of the book while he is holding it, you can see his hand is on the middle of the book. In the following shot his hand is on the top of it again. (00:14:35)
Chosen answer: It's not known what it is. It is left to the audience's imagination of what exactly is in the room or what some witch or wizard was doing in there. This is only meant to be a humorous bit and is unrelated to the plot. It didn't happen in the book.
raywest ★