When his father’s Invisibility Cloak turned up mysteriously at the foot of his bed one Christmas morn, Harry realised immediately how special it was.
The Invisibility Cloak

The Cloak's simplest, sneakiest use was for flawless eavesdropping but it also came into its own at other key moments. Here are seven times Harry was glad to own this amazing magical object…

In Hagrid’s cabin with Lucius Malfoy

In Hagrid’s cabin, Harry and Ron heard the cold, sinister voice of one Lucius Malfoy. They discovered in that moment that the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, was unjustly taking Hagrid to Azkaban, and that Dumbledore had been removed from his position as Headmaster.

’Dreadful thing, Dumbledore,’ said Mr Malfoy lazily, taking out a long roll of parchment, ‘but the governors feel it’s time for you step aside. This is an Order of Suspension – you’ll find all twelve signatures on it. I’m afraid we feel you’re losing your touch. How many attacks have there been now? Two more this afternoon, wasn’t it? At this rate, there’ll be no Muggle-borns left at Hogwarts, and we all know what an awful loss that would be to the school.’
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Lucius Malfoy leading Dumbledore away from Hagrid's Hut

During the Triwizard Tournament, near the dragon cages

Hagrid invited Harry to his hut to show him something that could help with the first task, so long as he stayed out of sight under his Cloak.

Hagrid led Madame Maxime around a clump of trees, and came to a halt. Harry hurried up alongside them – for a split second, he thought he was seeing bonfires, and men darting around them – and then his mouth fell open.
Dragons. Four fully grown, enormous, vicious-looking dragons were rearing on their hind legs inside an enclosure fenced with thick planks of wood, roaring and snorting – torrents of fire were shooting into the dark sky from their open, fanged mouths, fifty feet above the ground on their outstretched necks.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

People try to restrain the four dragons before the first Triwizard Task

Late at night in Hogwarts

Trapped on a trick step, Harry overheard Professor Snape reveal to Filch that someone had been searching for potion ingredients.

‘– and when I passed my office, I saw that the torches were lit and a cupboard door was ajar! Somebody has been searching it!’
‘But Peeves couldn’t –’
‘I know he couldn’t, Filch!’ Snape snapped. ‘I seal my office with a spell none but a wizard could break!’
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

In Knockturn Alley

Not a place Harry, Ron and Hermione would want to be seen – but just the right spot to overhear Draco Malfoy making mysterious plans in Borgin and Burkes

He moved towards Borgin and was blocked from view by the cabinet. Harry, Ron and Hermione shuffled sideways to try and keep him in sight, but all they could see was Borgin, looking very frightened.
‘Tell anyone,’ said Malfoy, ‘and there will be retribution. You know Fenrir Greyback? He’s a family friend, he’ll be dropping in from time to time to make sure you’re giving the problem your full attention.’
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Borgin and Burkes shop

On the Hogwarts Express

Harry snuck into Draco’s compartment just in time to hear the Slytherin smugly implying that he may not be returning to Hogwarts the following year.

‘What do you mean, you might not be at Hogwarts next year?’ said Pansy indignantly, ceasing grooming Malfoy at once.
‘Well, you never know,’ said Malfoy with the ghost of a smirk. ‘I might have – er – moved on to bigger and better things.’
Crouched in the luggage rack under his Cloak, Harry’s heart began to race. What would Ron and Hermione say about this? … Pansy resumed the slow stroking of Malfoy’s hair, looking dumbfounded.
‘Do you mean – Him?’
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Outside a deserted classroom

Harry listened to Professor Snape offering Draco Malfoy help with his secret plan – and made a surprising revelation.

‘Listen to me,’ said Snape, his voice so low now that Harry had to push his ear very hard against the keyhole to hear. ‘I am trying to help you. I swore to your mother I would protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow, Draco –’
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

On the Astronomy Tower

Trapped by the Body-Bind curse and hidden from view, Harry could only listen as Malfoy, Snape and the Death Eaters confronted Dumbledore.

Snape said nothing, but walked forwards and pushed Malfoy roughly out of the way. The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even the werewolf seemed cowed.
Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.
‘Severus… please…’
Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore.
‘Avada Kedavra!’
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Dumbledore falls from Hogwarts' top tower after he is killed
Harry Potter to Fantastic Beasts