Continuity mistake: When Dolores has Sybil Trelawney in the courtyard, sending her from Hogwarts, Dolores says, "Actually, I can," and then holds up a scroll. The way and direction she holds the scroll changes between shots. (00:47:25)
Continuity mistake: During the fifth-year O.W.L. exam in the Great Hall, Umbridge is sitting at the head of the room in front of the swinging pendulum. When the Weasley Wildfire Whizbangs go off in the Entrance Hall, Umbridge leaves her seat. The distance between her and the Great Hall door changes between camera shots behind and in front of her. (01:31:25)
Continuity mistake: In the Department of Mysteries, when Hermione says, "It's just an empty archway," the scratch on Harry's right cheek is large and bloody, but in the next shot it is significantly smaller. It continues to change in following shots. (01:48:40)
Continuity mistake: When Harry is standing in front of the prophecy orb with his name on it near the end of the film, the position of his fringe (bangs), most noticeably in relation to his scar, keeps changing during the scene. (01:43:20)
Continuity mistake: The Weasley boys interrupt the exams with their fireworks display. When they fly off, all of the proclamations in their wood frames fall to the floor. The proclamations above the door fall in front of the doorway at Dolores Umbridge's feet. When all of the students run out of the room, all of the proclamations that were in front of the doorway have instantly disappeared.
Continuity mistake: When Hermione asks if Ron ever stops eating, she has her hand up to her face. Camera cuts to behind Harry who has just walked over to them and her hand is no longer at her face. (00:43:20)
Continuity mistake: During the OWLs examination in the great hall, the large pendulum that swings on the large stage behind Dolores Umbridge; during the scene the swings do not always match up from shot to shot.
Continuity mistake: When entering the Ministry for his hearing, Harry's fringe is stuck up and to the left. When walking through the crowds just moments later it is a lot neater. (00:17:40)
Continuity mistake: When Arthur Weasely is attacked by the snake, his wand keeps moving its position. First it's on the floor near him, then it is closer to his body, then he is holding it. (01:05:25)
Continuity mistake: After the battle in the Hall of Prophecy, when Harry and the others land in the Death Chamber, Ginny is a good bit of distance away from Harry's feet in the side shot as they're all lying on the floor, but two shots later as they're starting to get up Ginny's head is now right beside Harry's knee. (01:52:25)
Continuity mistake: When Harry is narrating a letter to Padfoot, he sees a Thestral flying in the far distance, and it disappears behind a mountain. He hikes (presumably) all the way to where he thinks the Thestral went, and he finds Luna Lovegood in a clearing with a few Thestrals. For one thing, the Thestral that disappeared behind the mountain was MILES away, and it would have taken Harry a couple of hours, at least, to hike that distance through mountainous terrain. But, when he arrives at the clearing with the Thestrals, the daylight hasn't changed at all (should have been noticeably different lighting). Once he arrives there, he sees that even the largest Thestral is no bigger than a horse. But, when he first saw the Thestral disappear behind the mountain, at that distance the Thestral was about the size of a commercial jet airliner.
Continuity mistake: At the playground, when Harry sits on the swing his long shadow is cast directly in front of him as he watches a boy and his mother by the round-a-bout, which is also directly in front of him. Problem is their shadows, which are considerably shorter than Harry's, are cast to Harry's left. (00:01:05)
Continuity mistake: When Dudley and Harry enter the living room after the Dementor attack, Dudley has his arm round Harry in the long shot from Petunia's chair. However, in the closeup of the door after the instant camera cut, his arm is now down by his side. (00:05:20)
Continuity mistake: When Harry goes to his detention, Umbridge places the spoon on the saucer. When she gives Harry the quill, the spoon has changed position. (00:36:45)
Continuity mistake: When Voldemort leaves Harry's body near the end, Harry is lying on his back. Camera cuts to a long shot from the view of Ron, Ginny, Luna, Hermione and Harry is now on his side. (01:57:45)
Continuity mistake: When they meet Grawp, the toggle's on Hermione's jumper keep moving instantly. (01:27:00)
Continuity mistake: When Hermione is telling Harry that Voldemort probably showed Harry about Sirius to make him go to the Department Of Mysteries, Ron is lower than Hermione on the staircase. Yet in the next shot, he is level with her. (01:34:55)
Continuity mistake: When Dumbledore has had a stand off against Umbridge regarding Sybill Trelawny, he turns to go back into the castle. When he does, there is a huge group of kids around him. When it cuts to a shot from the front, a huge gap has appeared in the kids instantly. (00:48:35)
Continuity mistake: When the Order get the brooms at the start, the height they are being held at, changes during an instant cut. Harry and Kingsley's are most noticeable. (00:09:05)
Continuity mistake: When the Death Eaters whirl around Harry (grabbing the other students) in the Death Chamber, near the Veil, in the wideshots he is lying on the ground with his head upon his right arm, but in the previous and following close-ups his arm is lower and his head is lying directly on the ground. (01:53:20)
Answer: Sure. The whole prophecy, taken from the books, reads as follows: "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...". Thus stating that the person who will be able to defeat Voldemort will be born at the end of July, to parents who have escaped Voldemort on three occasions - this applies to Harry, born on July 31st, and also to Neville Longbottom, born the previous day. It states that Voldemort will mark his enemy, which occurs when Harry was a year old, when Voldemort failed to kill him, leaving him with his scar - the deciding event that determined that Harry was the subject of the prophecy. The power "that the Dark Lord has not" is believed to refer to Harry's capacity for love, which Voldemort lacks entirely. Finally, the "neither can live while the other survives" section is fairly straight-forward; only one of the pair will live, the other must die - the interpretation being that one must kill the other.
Tailkinker ★