Continuity mistake: When Potter and Hermione watch Fudge, Dumbledore and the executioner heading down to Hagrid's, Hermione says "Fudge is coming." Potter then turns his head. When it cuts he turns it again. (01:46:40)
Continuity mistake: When Potter points his wand at Vernon and Vernon says, "You're not allowed to use magic outside school," you see Vernon holding his hands down. When the scene cuts back to Vernon, he has his hand by the banister. (00:06:25)
Continuity mistake: The first time we see Dumbledore tell the executioner his services are no longer required (in a shot from the stone circle), he lifts his staff and points at him. The second time (in a shot from the pumpkin patch), Dumbledore does not lift his staff. (01:23:25 - 01:50:30)
Continuity mistake: At the Shrieking Shack, when Scabbers tries to run away, as he runs towards the small hole in the wall, the shape of the hole differs in the shot facing the rat's hind and the next shot facing Scabbers, just as he enters the hole. (Obviously before the hole enlarges to accommodate Peter.) (01:35:05)
Continuity mistake: The position of the "little old lady at twelve o'clock" in comparison to the bus while she's crossing the street changes quite a few times.
Continuity mistake: While everyone is in the Dursley's dining room, before and after Aunt Marge's inflation, the plates, cutlery, food, etc., on the table and kitchen counters change positions in subsequent shots, depending on the camera angle, not due to anyone touching them. (00:02:40)
Continuity mistake: In the Leaky Cauldron, the Minister takes the lid off of a pot of pea soup. Yet after reprimanding Harry, he shakes Harry's hand and walks past the table, and you can see the lid is on the pot of pea soup. It isn't in any other shots. (00:13:05 - 00:13:55)
Continuity mistake: When Aunt Marge says "Actually, it's nothing to do with the father..." you see Aunt Petunia lift her right arm. When it cuts her arm is down. (00:03:45)
Continuity mistake: While HRH sit in the Leaky Cauldron, as Ron says, "Even Scabbers enjoyed himself," and continues, "Yeah, along with the dung beetle," the stool behind Harry is straight and not under the small table at all. In the next shot as the twins get on Ron, the stool is crookedly pushed under the table. (00:16:40)
Continuity mistake: Draco Malfoy starts eating an apple during Hagrid's lesson about Hippogriffs. During the lecture, his apple changes back and forth from having a few bites taken out to being whole again. Draco himself also moves in the background from shot to shot. (00:33:40)
Continuity mistake: When Hermione tries to coax Buckbeak to follow Harry she holds up the ferret in her hand. Between the shots facing Hermione and then Buckbeak, the ferret and its paws change the direction that it faces while she grips the hind of the animal. This is only in regards to when she grasps the ferret and does not let go. (01:54:00)
Continuity mistake: When Hagrid is telling Harry, Ron and Hermione that Buckbeak must be executed, you see Harry in the background sitting on a rock, then stand up when he hears the news and walk away from the rock behind him. In the very next shot from behind, Harry is sitting down again (the water ripple from the small stone is visible at Hagrid's left). (01:10:00)
Continuity mistake: In the paddock scene, Harry's tie changes length. When he is in the paddock the narrow end of the tie is longer. When flying on Buckbeak, his tie is properly even. Then when he returns to the paddock, his tie is uneven once again. (00:34:15 - 00:36:50)
Continuity mistake: When Marge floats out the patio doors after Vernon yells, "Stop!" there is a horizontal tear along the vertical one at the back of her jacket, that is gone in the last shot of her after Vernon lets go. (00:05:25)
Continuity mistake: When Snape points his wand at the Marauder Map and says, "Reveal your secrets," you can see Potter has his right hand down. When the scene cuts, his right hand is holding the map. (01:13:00)
Continuity mistake: When the Weasley's have given Harry the Marauders Map, after one of them says "We owe it so much", Harry opens the map. When it cuts he opens it again. (00:57:35)
Continuity mistake: When Hermione and Harry go back, when they are at Hagrid's things lying in his front yard, such as the cauldron, wood, etc., change position in the following shots. (01:52:50)
Continuity mistake: When in the Leaky Cauldron, there is a man offering Harry food. He holds a bowl of nuts towards Harry, and in one shot he holds the bowl with two hands, yet in the following shot he is holding it with one hand. (00:12:50)
Continuity mistake: The first time Harry, Ron, and Hermione leave Hagrid's hut before Buckbeak gets "executed," Hermione opens Hagrid's back door and all three are peeking out of it before Hagrid opens his front door. The second time, when Harry and Hermione are watching from the pumpkin patch, Hagrid opens the front door at about the same time that Hermione opens the back one, and Ron and Harry aren't even seen yet. Because this is the same event in time from two different points of view, it should be absolutely synchronized.
Continuity mistake: In the Boggart scene, right after Professor Lupin tells Parvati to go and face the Boggart and it shows Harry high-fiving Ron, in the background you can see Seamus start to walk towards the front of the classroom, but he is standing behind Dean Thomas seconds later in the next shot. (00:41:40)
Chosen answer: Fred and George used the map to aid them in their mischievous activities at Hogwarts, and probably had little interest in what their little brother was doing or who he might be with at any given time.
raywest ★