The second disc menu opens with a sweeping shot of the Black Family Tree Tapestry – stunning! Though I couldn’t see much it moves quite quickly. There were tantalizing glimpses including – the Black Family Crest – a coat of arms topped by a skull, with three ravens and an armoured hand holding a wands, and the motto Toujours Pur. Plus all those names – the Prewitts, Weasleys, Tonks’s, Regulus and Sirius, and someone called Orion Walburg (1925-195/8?). The shot ends with Lucius and then great embroidered face of Draco Malfoy. The branches also have little skulls, dragons, Griffons, and a Snake on the branch.

Gryffindor Common Room
This is one continuous sweeping shot of the common room taking in all the other students before coming to rest on Harry sitting alone in front of the fire. I think it is after the detention with Umbridge and before Harry’s chat on the sofa at the fire with Ron and Hermione. There are some delightful touches, including a couple snogging on the stairs, Nevillle tending his Mimbulus Mimbletonia, some girls plaiting each other’s hair, Seamus and Dean playing cards, and glimpses of the tapestries on the walls. They should definitely have kept this scene! It’s just a complete contrast to the horror Harry has just endured with Umbridge, and it emphasizes how alone and apart from other students Harry is, how much more serious his worries are.

Umbridge questions Trelawney during a dream interpretation class
This is a lovely scene, with a sarcastic Umbridge interrupting and generally terrorizing Trelawney. There are also some great cuts to Ron (canon Ron - yay!) and Harry. Harry shows more grim, adult-like expressions as we see his dawning realization of how cruel Umbridge is, how she enjoys her power, how she is beginning to interfere at Hogwarts. They have cut this longish scene up into short cuts which they have spliced into the Umbridge Montage in the final cut of the film. Although the gist of the scene is kept, the mounting/dawning realization of what is happening (“The Minister’s eyes and ears”), is lost. Slytherins are grinning in the background, enjoying the cruelty. I think this sets up their later conversion to the Inquisitorial Squad. The scene also sets up Trelawney’s dismissal very nicely.

Filch and Umbridge’s hair
Filch sniffing then blowing on Umbridge’s still smoking hair (after the fireworks)

Extended forest scene with Umbridge, Hermione and Harry
A longish scene in which Umbridge explains herself more, justifies her actions, and tries to elicit sympathy from Harry and Hermione. She winds up crying “Look what you’ve done to me, I cannot take it anymore!”

Harry in Dumbledore’s office
After the battle at the ministry, a rather battered Harry enters Dumbledore’s office. There are nice details of the office, the whirring and clicking instruments, the Gryffindor sword (I think – though it looks a little plain) on the desk, and cabinets full of mysterious objects in the background. But sadly (sigh) Harry does not go mad with grief and rage and smash things up. Harry spots the sorting hat again, then angrily turns to walk out but is called by back by DD.