While nobody ever wants to lose house points, sometimes it can be for truly hilarious reasons. Today we look back at five times losing points gave us a good old giggle…

The time a crocodile was involved…

It’s always fun when a loathsome character like Malfoy gets their just desserts. And while we would never condone throwing things at people in anger… we can’t help by laugh at the image of a crocodile heart flying through the air and landing on Malfoy’s face. It almost makes the loss of fifty points seem worth it…

Malfoy spent much of their next Potions class doing Dementor imitations across the dungeon; Ron finally cracked, flinging a large, slippery crocodile heart at Malfoy, which hit him in the face and caused Snape to take fifty points from Gryffindor.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

When Malfoy’s Dementor impression didn’t quite go to plan…

This was another moment where Malfoy didn’t end up looking too good – and this time it was his turn to lose points! We think it is absolutely brilliant that Harry managed to conjure a Patronus while playing Quidditch and adored the chaos it caused to those playing the prank. The thought of Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Flint all piled up on the ground, and flailing around at the feet of a furious McGonagall, is too perfect.

Harry stared. Lying in a crumpled heap on the ground were Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Marcus Flint, the Slytherin team captain, all struggling to remove themselves from long, black, hooded robes. It looked as though Malfoy had been standing on Goyle’s shoulders. Standing over them, with an expression of the utmost fury on her face, was Professor McGonagall.

‘An unworthy trick!’ she was shouting. ‘A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Gryffindor Seeker! Detention for all of you, and fifty points from Slytherin! I shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this, make no mistake! Ah, here he comes now!’

If anything could have set the seal on Gryffindor’s victory, it was this. Ron, who had fought his way through to Harry’s side, doubled up with laughter as they watched Malfoy fighting to extricate himself from the robe, Goyle’s head still stuck inside it.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The time Montague ended up who knows where…

Ok, so we aren’t entirely sure if this one counts – but it was so funny we had to include it. Fred and George were the kings of mischief, so it is only right that they made an appearance on our list. With Umbridge’s Inquisitorial Squad roaming the halls and docking points, it was only a matter of time before they ended up on the wrong side of those they had mistreated. And (un)luckily for Montague, he probably had weeks to sit and reflect on what he had done…

‘Malfoy just docked us all about fifty points,’ said Harry furiously, as they watched several more stones fly upwards from the Gryffindor hourglass.

‘Yeah, Montague tried to do us during break,’ said George.

‘What do you mean, “tried”?’ said Ron quickly.

‘He never managed to get all the words out,’ said Fred, ‘due to the fact that we forced him head-first into that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor.’

Hermione looked very shocked.

‘But you’ll get into terrible trouble!’

‘Not until Montague reappears, and that could take weeks, I dunno where we sent him,’ said Fred coolly.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The time Ron decided sarcasm was the way forward…

Harry’s answer to Snape’s question about the difference between ghosts and Inferi was a little silly. However, Ron’s reaction to Snape’s smug explanation was brilliant. Dripping with sarcasm, he truly earned every one of those points he lost…

‘The Inferius is a corpse that has been reanimated by a Dark wizard’s spells. It is not alive, it is merely used like a puppet to do the wizard’s bidding. A ghost, as I trust that you are all aware by now, is the imprint of a departed soul left upon the earth ... and of course, as Potter so wisely tells us, transparent.’

‘Well, what Harry said is the most useful if we’re trying to tell them apart!’ said Ron. ‘When we come face to face with one down a dark alley we’re going to be having a shufti to see if it’s solid, aren’t we, we’re not going to be asking, “Excuse me, are you the imprint of a departed soul?”’

There was a ripple of laughter, instantly quelled by the look Snape gave the class. ‘Another ten points from Gryffindor,’ said Snape.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

When McGonagall had just had enough of Harry’s nonsense

Professor McGonagall was not a witch to be trifled with. She may be a Gryffindor, but she’s still not going to put up with Harry’s angsty attitude. We very much enjoyed her sharp comeback to Harry’s protestations at being docked points. Sorry Harry, next time you should probably heed your Head of House’s advice.

‘What’s this, Potter?’ said Professor McGonagall sharply, rounding on Harry. ‘Detention? From whom?’

‘From Professor Umbridge,’ muttered Harry, not meeting Professor McGonagall’s beady, square-framed eyes.

‘Are you telling me,’ she said, lowering her voice so that the group of curious Ravenclaws behind them could not hear, ‘that after the warning I gave you last Monday you lost your temper in Professor Umbridge’s class again?’

‘Yes,’ Harry muttered, speaking to the floor.

‘Potter, you must get a grip on yourself! You are heading for serious trouble! Another five points from Gryffindor!’

‘But – what –? Professor, no!’ Harry said, furious at this injustice, ‘I’m already being punished by her, why do you have to take points as well?’

‘Because detentions do not appear to have any effect on you whatsoever!’ said Professor McGonagall tartly.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Special mention...

We have to give a special mention to what could be considered one of Harry’s funniest moments. While Harry’s witty comment didn’t result in him losing house points, it did result in a detention – so we still think it deserves a shout out for being truly perfect.

‘Do you remember me telling you we are practising non- verbal spells, Potter?’

‘Yes,’ said Harry stiffly.

‘Yes sir.’

‘There’s no need to call me “sir”, Professor.’
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince