Hermione Granger

From Harry Potter Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Hermione Jean Granger
Hermione Granger.jpg
Biographical information
Born

29 September, 1980[1]
England[2]

Blood status

Muggle-born

Marital status

Married (as of 2014)

Also known as
Title(s)
Physical information
Species

Human

Gender

Female

Height

5ft, 5in[2]

Hair colour

Brown, bushy

Eye colour

Brown

Skin colour

Pale/Light

Family information
Family members
Magical characteristics
Boggart

Professor McGonagall giving her a fail grade

Wand
Patronus

Otter

Affiliation
Occupation
House

Gryffindor

Loyalty
Harry Potter: "But why's she got to go to the library?"
Ronald Weasley: "Because that's what Hermione does. When in doubt, go to the library."
Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley on Hermione.[src]


Hermione Jean Granger (b. 29 September, 1980[1]) was an English muggle-born witch and the only daughter of Muggle Mr and Mrs Granger, both dentists in London. At age eleven, Hermione learned that she was a witch and had been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She began attending the school on 1 September, 1991 where she was subsequently sorted into Gryffindor House. She possessed a brilliant academic mind and proved to be a gifted student. She was very studious and bookish. Along with Harry Potter and a few others, she was relatively little intimidated by Lord Voldemort's name, calling him by his name, instead of You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Hermione first met Harry Potter and Ron Weasley aboard the Hogwarts Express. Both boys found Hermione unfriendly and a know-it-all. Later her eagerness to please her professors and her constantly correct answers reinforced their initial impression. However, in spite of the cool relationship between the three, Hermione stepped in to take the blame from Ron and Harry after they had saved her from a troll on Hallowe'en. Harry and Ron were surprised but grateful, and the three quickly became friends. In her second year, Hermione fell victim to a basilisk unleashed upon Hogwarts following the opening of the Chamber of Secrets but was returned from her petrification under the care of Madam Pomfrey with the assistance of Professor Sprout's Mandrake Restorative Draught. The following year, Hermione was granted permission to use, and was sent, a Time-Turner from the Ministry of Magic to facilitate her volition to study far more subjects than was possible without time travel. Later in the year, she and Harry would use the Time-Turner to rescue Sirius Black from the Dementor's Kiss as well as Buckbeak the hippogriff from execution. During her fourth year at Hogwarts, Hermione became an advocate for the better treatment of house-elves, forming the association S.P.E.W. In her fifth year, she was the driving force behind the creation of Dumbledore's Army. Later in her fifth year she fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. In her sixth year she fought in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower and, at the beginning of what would be her seventh year, the Battle of the Seven Potters in 1997. Hermione, as well as Ron — with whom she had become romantically involved — decided not to return to Hogwarts for their final year of studies and instead chose to accompany Harry on his quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. She then fought in, and survived, the Battle of Hogwarts.

Following the Second Wizarding War, Hermione went back to Hogwarts to complete her education at Hogwarts. Later she found employment with the Ministry of Magic, furthering the cause for the better treatment of house-elves, before being promoted to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She eventually married Ron Weasley, and together they had two children: a daughter, Rose, and a son, Hugo. Hermione became the godmother of Harry and Ginny Potter's eldest son James.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Early life (1980-1991)[edit | edit source]

Not much is known about Hermione's life before she entered the wizarding world. She was the only child[4] of Muggle parents, Mr and Mrs Granger, both dentists in London. Mr and Mrs Granger were seen as "quite ordinary" and although they were "a bit bemused" by the oddities displayed by their daughter, they were known to be proud of her.

In the summer of 1991, Hermione was surprised to learn that she was a witch and was invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She eagerly accepted and took to studying magic even before she began her first year at Hogwarts in the September of 1991, learning all the set spell books by heart and even managing to perform "a few spells" successfully. In addition to the texts set by the school, Hermione brought with her several other books for reference and to further her understanding of the wizarding world.[5]

Hogwarts years (1991-1997)[edit | edit source]

Terry Boot: "How come you're not in Ravenclaw? With brains like yours?"
Hermione: "Well, the Sorting Hat did seriously consider putting me in Ravenclaw during my Sorting, but it decided on Gryffindor in the end."
— Hermione at a DA meeting[src]


Hermione enjoyed her years as a pupil at Hogwarts, and took assignments, classes, and school rules very seriously. Her favourite subject was initially Charms, and later Arithmancy, and the only areas of study that gave her trouble were Flying and Divination. Some students, such as Terry Boot, wondered why Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor house rather than Ravenclaw, given her keen mind. Hermione admitted that the Sorting Hat did consider putting her in Ravenclaw. Being sorted into Gryffindor, Hermione would share a dormitory with Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil and two other girls.[6]

But she proved her rightful place in Gryffindor with her steadfast bravery and loyalty to her friends, Hogwarts, and Dumbledore's Army. It is likely that the Sorting Hat put her in Gryffindor in the first place, because she chose to be in it, just like Harry chose to not be in Slytherin; on the train, she mentions that, "Gryffindor... sounds by far the best."

First year[edit | edit source]

Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good is it? I've tried a few simple spells myself and they've all worked for me.

–Hermione upon first meeting Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Hermione was a couple of weeks away from turning twelve when she boarded the Hogwarts Express in 1991, where she met Harry Potter and Ron Weasley while helping Neville Longbottom find his pet toad, Trevor. Hermione demonstrated a knowledge and talent with magic beyond most of those her age, despite having only recently discovered that she was a Muggle-born witch. She wished to be a Gryffindor or a Ravenclaw, and her wish was granted considering she did get sorted into Gryffindor. She soon proved to be the best in all her classes, eager to please the professors and to help others learn, albeit in a bossy way that made it difficult for her to make friends.

Hermione attached herself to Harry and Ron, following them around and trying to prevent them from breaking school rules and getting into trouble. On one night, she followed them as they were leaving Gryffindor Tower to duel Draco Malfoy. They were chased by Argus Filch, acting on a tipoff by Malfoy, into the third floor corridor — forbidden to students — where they came face-to-face with Fluffy, a three-headed dog belonging to Hagrid. Later on, she argued that her spying was to their benefit when she pointed out the dog had been standing on a trap door, which Harry and Ron had not noticed.

The friendship between the three was solidified when, on Hallowe'en in 1991, the three were forced to confront a mountain troll. Unaware that a troll was on the loose in the school, Hermione had spent that day crying in the girls' bathroom after overhearing Ron making unkind comments about her. The troll made its way into the bathroom she was in, and Harry and Ron came to her rescue, saving her. When Professors Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, and Quirinus Quirrell arrived at the scene, Hermione covered for the boys, claiming she was fighting the troll because she had thought that she could fight one, having read a great deal about them, and that Ron and Harry had merely come to help her escape. From that point on, the three students were best friends.

The incident with the troll was by no means her only adventure in that first year. During the first Quidditch match, Hermione set Professor Snape's robes on fire when she thought he was jinxing Harry's broom. In the spring of 1992, Hagrid, a friend of Hermione's through Harry, managed to procure a dragon egg. Hermione along with Ron and Harry helped Hagrid care for the beast which Hagrid named Norbert. When the dragon was discovered, Hermione and Harry helped smuggle it out of the school to some friends of Ron's elder brother, Charlie Weasley. During the night, they were found, and given detention.

Fearing that Lord Voldemort would return if the Philosopher's Stone, which Harry, Ron, and Hermione had divined was hidden in the school, was stolen, Harry decided to steal the Stone first. When he told Hermione that he could go on alone, she rebuffed him. After the trio passed Fluffy, it was Hermione who freed Ron from a patch of Devil's Snare he had dropped into by conjuring Lumos Solem. She later got herself and Harry through a challenge involving a Potion Riddle. Hermione used her logic to figure out the riddle and let Harry go forward without her, as there was only enough potion for one person. Later, at the Farewell Feast in the Great Hall, Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Neville were all awarded extra House Points for bravery and heroism, which won Gryffindor the House Cup.[5]

Second year[edit | edit source]

Hermione: "Well, if you two are going to chicken out, fine. I don't want to break rules, you know. I think threatening Muggle-borns is far worse than brewing up a difficult potion. But if you don't want to find out..."
Ron: "I never thought I'd see the day when you'd be persuading us to break rules."
— Hermione convincing Harry and Ron of her plan to use Polyjuice Potion[src]


Before she started her second year, Hermione wrote several letters to Harry, all of which were intercepted by Dobby, as the house elf wanted Harry to believe that his friends had forgotten him in order to prevent his return to Hogwarts. She and her parents also accompanied Harry and the Weasley family to Diagon Alley to shop for school supplies.

It was during her second school year that Hermione first encountered the prejudice and hatred surrounding her blood status, when Draco Malfoy called her a "filthy little Mudblood" after she told him off for insulting the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Hermione had never heard the highly offensive term but looking around at everyone around her, it was an obvious fact. Fred and George Weasley lunged at him, and Ron even tried to hex him, but it backfired, as his wand had been damaged. To help Hermione feel better about the incident, Hagrid urged her not to think about it, pointing out that she was a talented witch, regardless of what bigoted people said about her Muggle-born status

Hermione surprised Harry and Ron with her obvious crush on Gilderoy Lockhart, who became that year's Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. Ron was very troubled by that fact and it was very obvious that he didn't like that Hermione had a crush on Gilderoy Lockhart. She scored full marks on the first quiz in his class, which contained only questions pertaining to Lockhart's books, including a question regarding his favourite colour (lilac) that most of the class had answered incorrectly. In fact, she went as far as to doodle hearts on her D.A.D.A. assignments, not knowing until later that he was, in reality, a self-obsessed fraud.

On Hallowe'en, 1992 Hermione attended Nearly Headless Nick's Death-day Party with Harry and Ron. While heading back upstairs, she followed Harry, who claimed to be hearing voices. They discovered the caretaker's cat, Mrs Norris, petrified and the walls vandalised. Hermione began spending all her free time in the Hogwarts Library after she saw the vandalism on the corridor walls, which had said that the Chamber of Secrets had been re-opened. Despite hoping to read about the legend, she could not; as all the books had been previously checked out. Hermione shocked everyone when she actually interrupted Professor Cuthbert Binns during a History of Magic lecture, asking questions about the Chamber of Secrets. This was the only known time when a student asked the boring professor a question, and the class was interested in what he had to say.

Professor Binns had stated that Salazar Slytherin had hidden a chamber which consisted of a horrible monster. It had been unleashed before once, petrifying many Muggle-born and had also killed a Ravenclaw girl, named Myrtle, who began haunting the girls' lavatory. Salazar was angry about the fact that Muggle-born children should be allowed to attend Hogwarts, but he was outnumbered and Muggle-borns like Hermione were allowed to attend the school. Slytherin fled the school, but rumours spread that he had built a hidden chamber; it was said that the school had been searched many times, but no such chamber had been found.

When Harry proposed the theory that Draco Malfoy was the "Heir of Slytherin," Hermione went even further by daring to check Moste Potente Potions out of the library using a note from Professor Lockhart, in the desire to research Polyjuice Potion. She hoped that they would be able to obtain a confession from Malfoy. She brewed the potion in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, as no one used it. Hermione also risked serious consequences when she stole potion ingredients from Professor Snape's personal cupboards that were needed for the difficult potion, which took a month to brew.

Unfortunately, Hermione was unable to join Harry and Ron in the ruse with Polyjuice Potion because the hair she obtained from Millicent Bulstrode during their scuffle in the Duelling Club was actually the hair of Bulstrode's cat. Hermione grew fur and a tail, and remained in the hospital wing for weeks. Harry and Ron, however, were able to use the potion she brewed to transform into Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe, respectively. They entered the Slytherin common room, and through conversation with Draco Malfoy, realised that he was not the Heir of Slytherin, and was not involved in the opening of the Chamber after all.

Months after her recovery from the Polyjuice complication, Hermione suffered another accident. Drawing the connection between Harry hearing voices in the walls and him being a Parselmouth, she came to the conclusion that the creature attacking students must be a Basilisk, and rushed to the library to conduct further research. On her way back from the library, she warned the first person she saw, Penelope Clearwater, and advised her to look around corners with a mirror before going anywhere. It saved both their lives, because they were both petrified when they spotted the basilisk's eyes through the mirror. Though she was petrified for the rest of the school year, Hermione was still able to assist Harry and Ron, for she had torn out the page on basilisks and scribbled on it "pipes", referencing the manner in which the creature had moved around the school undetected. Using this note and other information they had gathered, Harry and Ron were able to successfully put an end to Lord Voldemort's plans to resurrect his body through his memory stored in an old school diary. Hermione was later cured with a Mandrake Restorative Draught created by Professor Sprout. She was disappointed to learn that, as a special treat for the school, Professor Dumbledore cancelled the students' end of year exams, though intensely proud that her friends had solved the mystery.[7]

That summer, Hermione went on holiday to France with her parents.

Third year[edit | edit source]

P-P-Professor McGonagall! Sh-she said I'd failed everything!

–Hermione faces her Boggart, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Just before she began the 1993-1994 school year, while visiting Diagon Alley with Harry and the Weasley family, Hermione met and adopted a ginger part-Kneazle cat named Crookshanks from the Magical Menagerie. However, her new bond with her cat caused friction with Ron and his pet rat Scabbers, as Crookshanks was always trying to catch the rat. Also at the beginning of this school year, Hermione obtained a Time-Turner from Professor McGonagall so she could double up on classes, though this was kept secret.

When Harry received a Firebolt for Christmas with no note, Hermione reported it to Professor McGonagall, thinking it was sent by Sirius Black, whom everyone believed to be a dangerous murderer who was after Harry. His broom was taken away to be inspected, which caused a temporary rift between the two friends. There was further social strain for Hermione when Ron accused Crookshanks of eating Scabbers, who had disappeared. Hermione poured herself into defending Buckbeak, the hippogriff on trial before the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures for attacking Draco Malfoy during a Care of Magical Creatures class. Once the trio reconciled, after Hagrid told Harry and Ron how disappointed he was when they selfishly put the Firebolt and Scabbers over their friendship with Hermione, they apologised. Their attempt to save Buckbeak failed, as Lucius Malfoy frightened the Committee into deciding that the creature would be executed. Hermione was extremely upset by this news and grew furious to the point of slapping Draco when he mocked Hagrid for being upset about Buckbeak's fate.

That year, Hermione was also among the students who found Remus Lupin to be the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher they have ever got. Hermione cleverly deduced that Professor Lupin was a werewolf, based on his Boggart taking the form of a full moon, the timing of his unexplained absences from class, and Professor Snape changing a lesson he took over to the subject of werewolves. However, Hermione did not expose Lupin, presumably because she believed he was a good teacher and did not agree with the prejudice many hold against werewolves. Divination, on the other hand, turned out to be a subject Hermione had no respect for or interest in, and soon dropped the subject after Sybill Trelawney told her that she did not posses the second sight. She believed that Divination was an imprecise term of magic. Her hatred for the subject also may have been because of Professor Trelawney.[8]

On the day of Buckbeak's execution, the trio ventured down to console Hagrid. While in his cabin, Hermione discovered Scabbers, Ron's lost rat. Hagrid urged them to leave and they witnessed what they thought to be Buckbeak's execution. Before they could return to their dormitory, Scabbers bit Ron and fled. While chasing after the rat, they were attacked by a black dog, which pulled Ron, by the arm, into a tunnel beneath the Whomping Willow, which then attacked them. Afterward, Hermione and Harry hurried after them eventually arriving in the Shrieking Shack, where Sirius Black, whose Animagus form was the black dog, confronted them. They were soon joined by Professor Lupin who was acting strangely, and Hermione told Harry and Ron of her belief that he was a werewolf, which he then confirmed. It was revealed that Sirius had been framed for the betrayal of James and Lily Potter, and that the true traitor was Peter Pettigrew, who had been hiding from the world as Ron's pet rat, Scabbers. Hermione also cast Expelliarmus on Snape, knocking him out, at which she was horrified.

Once it had been decided that Pettigrew would be turned over to the authorities, the motley group left the Shrieking Shack. When the full moon appeared, chaos ensued as Lupin transformed as he did not take the potion that Professor Snape produced for him. Pettigrew attacked Ron and escaped, and Sirius had to transform in order to protect Harry, Ron, and Hermione from the werewolf. Hermione and Harry rushed to Sirius' aid when they heard him moaning, but then hundreds of Dementors descended on them, come to recapture Sirius. Sirius quickly fainted, and Harry told Hermione to think of something happy and attempt to cast a patronus as he was trying to himself, but they were both unable to cast one. As Harry conjured an uncorporeal Patronus, Hermione passed out leaving Harry to fight the Dementors alone. Harry held them off for a while but was eventually overwhelmed. The Dementors were about to perform the Kiss on Harry, Hermione, and Sirius when a mysterious figure cast a Patronus Charm to repel the Dementors.

Harry and Hermione awoke in the hospital wing after being rescued by Severus Snape who conjured stretchers for Hermione, Harry and Sirius. After realising that Sirius's soul was to be destroyed by the Dementor's Kiss and receiving vague, though instructive and useful, instructions from Dumbledore, Hermione used her Time-Turner to return herself and Harry to a time earlier in the evening. It was a very difficult task and Harry had to be constantly reminded by Hermione to stay concealed. Hermione agreed with Harry that it was difficult to watch their problems again, but she strictly said that they could do nothing about it, as bad things happened to wizards/witches who tried to meddle with their past and future lives. They did, however, use the opportunity to rescue Sirius and Buckbeak as it was hinted by Dumbledore that more than one innocent life could be spared that night.[8] While waiting she discussed their saviour with Harry, and when Harry realised that it was he, she claimed that none but a powerful wizard could have conjured a Patronus to drive away that many Dementors. As evidenced by her assertion that time-travelling was extremely dangerous, Hermione took great personal risk to save Sirius and Buckbeak. At the end of the year Hermione returned her Time-Turner, claiming it caused too much trouble and that she would drop a few subjects instead, which was a very big surprise to everyone.

Fourth year[edit | edit source]

You know, house-elves get a very raw deal! It's slavery, that's what it is! That Mr Crouch made her go up to the top of the stadium, and she was terrified, and he's got her bewitched so she can't even run when they start trampling tents! Why doesn't anyone do something about it?

–Hermione begins her campaign for the better treatment of house-elves, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Before her fourth year at Hogwarts, Hermione spent much of the summer holidays at The Burrow with Harry and Ron, sharing a room with Ginny Weasley. With the other Weasleys (excluding Molly Weasley), they attended the 1994 Quidditch World Cup in August. After the game, the communal camp-site was set upon by Death Eaters. Hermione, Harry, and Ron fled into the woods and witnessed the casting of Morsmordre. Initially caught up in the chaos surrounding the effort to catch the caster, she took exception to the accusations levelled against Harry, and the many wizards' treatment of the house-elf Winky who had also been at the scene.

Once at Hogwarts, Hermione began a crusade for the liberation of house-elves by beginning the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, or what she and the group called S.P.E.W, (or as Ronald Weasley called it: spew) having been appalled by Bartemius Crouch's abusive treatment of his house-elf Winky. This did not earn her any popularity, as most believed that house-elves enjoy their work; indeed, even the house-elves did not like her campaigning. Harry, Ron, and Neville Longbottom only reluctantly joined, mostly in order to prevent Hermione from nagging them about it. Hagrid as well as Fred and George Weasley refused to join on the grounds that it would upset the house-elves, though Fred did tell Hermione how to get into the Hogwarts kitchens, where she spoke to Dobby and Winky. Hermione considered the former to be a good example of a free elf, and tried to comfort the latter about being sacked by Crouch, but Winky soon became upset by Hermione's claims that house-elves deserved to have holidays and wages, along with the other elves.

After the events surrounding Harry's name coming out of the Goblet of Fire, Hermione was the only student who believed Harry's innocence; in fact, she "accepted his story without question." Even Ron was suspicious that Harry had cheated in order to gain more glory, creating a rift between the two for some time. Hermione helped Harry for the Triwizard Tournament by teaching him useful spells, such as Stupefy, Impedimenta and Accio and tried to get Harry and Ron to talk to one another multiple times.

At this time, Hermione unknowingly attracted the interest of Durmstrang Triwizard Champion and Bulgarian International Seeker, Viktor Krum for her intelligence, unconventional beauty, and the manner in which she declined to hound him for autographs, unlike other girls. Krum began following Hermione to the library and other places around Hogwarts, and even asked Harry if it was all right for him to pursue Hermione. He eventually asked her to attend the Yule Ball with him, and she accepted, not telling anyone but Ginny Weasley.

Thus, when the pair arrived, many were stunned and jealous. Hermione wore robes of "floaty, periwinkle-blue material,"[9] and her hair in an "elegant knot at the back of her head." The attention to her appearance was unusual, and she received many positive remarks on it. Hermione commented that she had used Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, but that it was too much work to use it every day. Upon seeing Hermione with Krum, Ron was overcome with jealousy. Hermione intended for Ron to ask her, but his invite was insensitive and at the last minute. The two rowed about it in the common room, in which Hermione revealed that he should have asked her instead of Krum, but Ron misunderstood the point. After that, the two were seemingly more polite, although Ron continued to show dislike of Krum.

Hermione was chosen as a "kidnap victim" for Krum during the Tournament's Second Task, something that she subsequently endured teasing over. She was taken to the bottom of the Black Lake to await rescue from Krum, who donned a half-shark Transfiguration. Krum managed to rescue her and carried her to the surface, where he revealed to her later that he "never felt this way about any other girl" and asked her to visit him in Bulgaria over the summer.[9]

Rita Skeeter, a journalist for the Daily Prophet and unregistered Animagus, was hiding in beetle form in Hermione's hair during this conversation. Hermione had previously told Skeeter off for printing horrible lies about Harry and Rubeus Hagrid, angering the journalist, who wrote a scathing article on "the devious Miss Granger," claiming that she was toying with both Harry and Krum's affections and possibly brewing Love Potions. In the words of Ron, Skeeter was making Hermione out to be a "Scarlet Woman." Although she called Hermione "plain" in the article, she had previously reported Hermione as Harry's "stunningly pretty... girlfriend" by likely twisting and sensationalising the words of Colin Creevey and thus used this as the basis for the article. Although Hermione found the lies ridiculous, some people believed them and started sending Hermione hate mail, and even Molly Weasley treated her coldly until Harry corrected her. Hermione found this irritating and vowed to get revenge on Skeeter for her libel, and she did.

On the ride home on the Hogwarts Express, Hermione happily revealed she uncovered Skeeter's status as an unregistered Animagus and had trapped her in a jar. She kept Skeeter from writing for a year by threatening to expose her to the authorities. She single-handed drove Skeeter into poverty, gaining revenge for the pain caused to Harry and her other friends. However, with the return of Lord Voldemort and the murder of Cedric Diggory at the end of the school year,[9] there were much more serious challenges ahead for Hermione and her friends.

Fifth year[edit | edit source]

Ron: "Seamus reckons that Harry's lying about You-Know-Who."
Hermione: "Yes, Lavender thinks so too..."
Harry: "Been having a nice little chat with her about whether or not I'm a lying, attention-seeking prat, have you?"
Hermione: "No, I told her to keep her big fat mouth shut about you, actually. And it would be quite nice if you stopped jumping down Ron and my throats, Harry, because if you haven't noticed, we're on your side."
— Hermione and Harry arguing.[src]

Following the death of Cedric Diggory, the Ministry of Magic refused to accept Harry and Dumbledore's claims that Lord Voldemort had returned, and the Daily Prophet labelled them either liars or nutters. However, Hermione and Ron believed Harry and defended him against the criticism of doubtful classmates. Though occasionally Harry vented his frustration at them, Hermione and Ron stuck by him. They also wanted to become members of the reconvened Order of the Phoenix but were not allowed to because they were under-age. Hermione helped exterminate 12 Grimmauld Place, which served as headquarters for the Order, and was immensely relieved when Harry was acquitted of the charge of having used under-age magic. Also before returning to Hogwarts, she and Ron learned that they had been appointed prefects for Gryffindor house and received badges. She took her position very seriously.

Once the school year began, Hermione resumed some of her activism on behalf of house-elves, though she was not as intense about S.P.E.W. as she had been the previous year. She learned how to knit socks and hats for the house-elves and hid them in Gryffindor Tower. The elves found this attempt at freeing them insulting, and they stopped cleaning the Tower at all. Dobby, already a free elf, was the only one who enjoyed the gifts. He took everything Hermione had made and cleaned the Tower by himself, a fact which Hermione did not know.

Meanwhile, it was not long before Hermione realised that the Ministry of Magic had decided to interfere at Hogwarts. Dolores Umbridge, a cruel, falsey sweet Ministry employee with a personality like "poisoned honey", was appointed as the new professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts. She refused to teach students practical defence, focusing only on theory. With this being the case, Hermione decided that Hogwarts needed a competent teacher and, together with Harry and Ron, founded Dumbledore's Army, a secret organisation in which students would gather after classes and be taught practical defensive spells. She suggested that Harry be the teacher; though he originally thought the idea ridiculous, he consented to teach the class. One of the many spells Hermione learned was the Patronus Charm; hers took the form of an otter. Hermione also became one of the few people brave enough to call Voldemort by his actual name. However, Hermione made the mistake of arranging the first meeting to take place in the Hog's Head, as opposed to the Three Broomsticks, which Sirius, appearing in the Gryffindor Common Room fire, said would have made it a lot more harder for anyone to overhear. Willy Widdershins, who was in the Hog's Head, went to Umbridge, who instituted Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four to forbid any type of students groups from being formed.

Halfway through the year at Hogwarts, Harry had a vision of Voldemort's snake, Nagini, biting Mr Weasley during his task for the Order of the Phoenix. Mr Weasley was carried into St. Mungo's Hospital, where Mrs Weasley screamed at him for trying to stitch his wound instead of healing it with magic. Hermione was one of the few who visited him and stayed at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place for a couple of weeks until Mr Weasley was nursed back to health. Hermione had managed to convince her parents by telling them that skiing wasn't really her thing and that people who were serious about their exams stayed at Hogwarts and studied.

The D.A. brought Harry into greater contact with Cho Chang. After a meeting, Harry kissed Cho, and when he didn't tell it to Hermione and Ron, she guessed, asking if Cho had cornered him after the meeting. She explained to Harry and Ron that Cho was having a hard time since Cedric Diggory, who she used to go out with, was killed by Lord Voldemort. Hermione gave Harry advice on Cho and girls in general. In an effort to combat the lies being told about Harry, Hermione also arranged for an interview during a Hogsmeade visit with Rita Skeeter to be printed in The Quibbler telling his side of the story. Despite being banned, it became the magazine's best-selling issue of all time.[6]

It was Hermione's brilliant spell-work that ensured the security of Dumbledore's Army. She created coins enchanted with the Protean Charm, an advanced spell, as a method of communication, and jinxed the club's attendance sheet to give any tattler a horrendous rash on the face, which would spell out "SNEAK" in painful boils. This is exactly what happened to Marietta Edgecombe later in the year when she betrayed the D.A. to Umbridge. When Harry learned that they could not find a counter curse, he swelled with pride at Hermione's jinxing ability. Hermione was not exposed at that time, but later she was brought to Umbridge's office by the Inquisitorial Squad.

Late in the fall of that year, Hagrid, who had been missing for the entirety of the school year, returned to Hogwarts. Hermione, Harry, and Ron ventured down to see him immediately even though it was after curfew. Hermione was aghast at the injuries Hagrid had sustained and greatly curious as to his story. She was almost caught when Umbridge called on Hagrid that night. Months later, Hermione and Harry learned why Hagrid was perpetually bruised and cut. He had brought his half giant brother Grawp back from the giants.Just after their class took their O.W.L.s, Harry had a vision of his godfather being tortured by Voldemort in the Department of Mysteries. Hermione was worried that it was a trap and convinced Harry to try to contact Sirius before doing anything rash. To that end, she accompanied Harry in an act of solidarity as he sneaked into Umbridge's office to use the Floo Network, with the assistance of Ron, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood, but they were ultimately caught. When Umbridge threatened to use the Cruciatus Curse on Harry during questioning, Hermione interceded, coming up with a lie that she and her fellow D.A. members had been building a weapon for Dumbledore.

She successfully lured Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest, where Umbridge was carried away by a herd of centaurs. Hermione had predicted that the centaurs would let her and Harry go, since they did not insult the centaurs and were young enough to be considered "foals." However, the centaurs were already enraged by Umbridge and were further angered when Hermione admitted that she had hoped that they would drive Umbridge off, being insulted that they were thought of to do the bidding of humans. They were about to carry the two students off as well, but Grawp stumbled onto the scene and a fight broke out between the giant and the herd. This allowed Hermione and Harry to escape and meet up with Ron, Ginny, Luna, and Neville, who had escaped from the Inquisitorial Squad. The six students flew on Thestrals to the Ministry of Magic to try to save Sirius.

Hermione's fear turned out to be justified, as Harry's vision was a ruse designed to lure him to the Ministry to obtain a prophecy Voldemort sought. As soon as Harry did this, the six D.A. members were surrounded by Death Eaters, and a battle ensued. Hermione stunned Nott when he grabbed Harry, thus freeing him and causing Nott to be injured by the collapsing shelves of prophecies. She later stunned another Death Eater and silenced Antonin Dolohov before he could alert the other Death Eaters to the group's location. She was critically injured by the curse Dolohov subsequently struck her with, but made a full recovery.[6]

Hermione was challenged in more ways than one that year when she met Luna Lovegood, whose belief in many things without logical grounds baffled Hermione. However, the two became friends after accepting one another's differences.[6]

Sixth year[edit | edit source]

And it's supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us, and I can smell freshly mowed grass and new parchment and...

–Hermione possibly realising her feelings towards Ron whilst smelling the Love Potion, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Hermione achieved high academic prestige when she obtained ten O.W.L.s, in Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, History of Magic, Herbology, Astronomy, Potions, and Ancient Runes. She received 'Outstanding' marks on each of them, except Defence Against the Dark Arts, in which she received an 'Exceeds Expectations,' which she dwelt upon; Ron found it amusing that she actually seemed disappointed by this.

By the time they arrived in Hogwarts, Hermione's romantic feelings for Ron had become obvious, and she was upset when he and Lavender started flirting. Hermione and Ron's relationship suffered greatly in their sixth year, when Ron became envious of both Hermione and Harry, who were invited to be members of the Slug Club, a group of students favoured by Potions professor Horace Slughorn, while he was ignored. He was mollified when Hermione revealed that she was going to ask if he wanted to attend Slughorn's Christmas party with her, and the two seemed on their way to a romantic relationship.

However, during an argument with his sister, Ginny humiliated Ron about his inexperience with the opposite gender and told him that Hermione had kissed Viktor Krum during their earlier romance. Ron subsequently began treating Hermione coldly, much to her bewilderment. He became even angrier with her when she believed that Harry slipped Ron Felix Felicis to assist in his Quidditch-playing abilities, despite having believed it initially himself, accusing her of having no faith in him when it was discovered that he had not been slipped the potion at all. All of this culminated in Ron beginning a very public relationship with fellow Gryffindor student Lavender Brown (Hermione was always insecure around Ron). When she found out about Ron's relationship with Lavender, she conjured a flock of wild birds to attack Ron. After this, Hermione went to the aforementioned Christmas party with Cormac McLaggen to get back at Ron, but it did not go well due to the former's impoliteness. Afterwards, Ron (who was relieved that Hermione and McLaggen's date did not go well and who was growing discontent in his relationship with Lavender) attempted to speak to Hermione, but she ignored him.[10] The two reconciled after Ron was hospitalised due to consuming poisoned mead, an event that left Hermione shaken and frightened. By this time, Ron was visibly disillusioned with his relationship with Lavender, who had become possessive of him and called him by the annoying nickname "Won-Won." He also muttered Hermione's name in his sleep while in the hospital wing.

He began avoiding Lavender, who soon became suspicious of his relationship with Hermione, ultimately leading to an argument about her. After Lavender saw Ron and Hermione come down alone from the boys' dormitories (Harry was under the Invisibility cloak) she had a fight with Ron and broke up with him. After Ron told Harry and Hermione about breaking up with Lavender, Harry could have sworn he saw Hermione smirk. Afterwards, Hermione and Ron were more comfortable together, and their relationship improved considerably, although a romantic relationship remained out of their reach. Hermione comforted Ron after he failed his Apparition test because he Splinched half an eyebrow, while he teased her about the instructor's praise for her flawless performance. That year, Hermione also mastered non-verbal magic.

Throughout the year, she and Ron were both sceptical of Harry's claims that Draco Malfoy had been branded with the Dark Mark and was up to something. Moreover, Hermione was confident that Malfoy couldn't have brought any Dark objects into Hogwarts without alerting Filch. Hermione also strongly disapproved of Harry using the textbook of the "Half-Blood Prince" to get ahead in Potions unfairly, though she did not turn him in. She was particularly alarmed by the increasingly Dark nature of the magic in the book, such as the spell Sectumsempra. Near the end of the school year, Harry's suspicions would be proven right. Malfoy let Death Eaters into the school, resulting in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. Hermione fought in the battle and remained unscathed thanks to [10] some Felix Felicis, which Harry forced her, Ron, and Ginny to drink beforehand. Also throughout the school year, Hermione as well as Ron had been informed of the content of Harry's private lessons with Dumbledore. Through these lessons Harry and in turn Hermione and Ron learned about Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes.

During the funeral of Albus Dumbledore, Hermione was comforted by Ron and cried on his shoulder. Afterwards, Harry told them about his desire to drop out of Hogwarts to hunt Horcruxes, which were the key to defeating Lord Voldemort. Despite his protests, Hermione and Ron promised to forgo their seventh year of school in order to assist Harry. Before leaving the school, Hermione was able to summon books about Horcruxes from Dumbledore's office, where the late headmaster had kept them after the subject had been banned at Hogwarts.

Search for the Horcruxes (1997-1998)[edit | edit source]

Harry: "Listen!"
Hermione: "No, Harry, you listen. We're coming with you. That was decided months ago — years, really."
— Hermione to Harry regarding her and Ron's plans to accompany him on the hunt for the Horcruxes[src]


Hermione began planning for her journey with Harry and Ron immediately. She summoned books about Horcruxes from Dumbledore's office so as to learn how to destroy the items. Concerned for the safety of her family, she altered her parents' memories to make them think they were Wendell and Monica Wilkins and sent them to hide in Australia, no longer aware of their original identities, the existence of their daughter, or anything she had told them about Harry. She also withdrew all of her savings at her building society account, in event of a need for Muggle money.[11]

Battle of the Seven Potters[edit | edit source]

And then, out of nowhere, out of nothing, they were surrounded. At least thirty hooded figures, suspended in midair, formed a vast circle in the midst of which the Order members had risen, oblivious —

–The start of the battle, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows


Hermione then joined with the Order of the Phoenix in the operation to remove Harry from 4 Privet Drive before his 17th birthday, taking Polyjuice Potion to become one of the "seven Potters." Hermione flew on a Thestral with Kingsley Shacklebolt. The two fought off at least five Death Eaters, possibly killing one, injuring two, and were pursued by Lord Voldemort himself at one point. In time, they arrived safely at the Burrow, where Hermione was immensely relieved to see Harry alive, but she was greatly worried when Ron did not show up on time. When he landed, she ran and nuzzled him in relief. She was saddened by the news of Alastor Moody and Hedwig's murders and disturbed by Harry's vision of Garrick Ollivander being tortured.

Later on, the Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour interrupted Harry's birthday celebrations to execute Albus Dumbledore's will and bequeath some of his belongings to the three friends. Hermione received The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a book of children's stories written in runes. Even before Hermione understood the priceless quality of the gift, she was moved to tears by Dumbledore's great act of friendship. During the reading of Dumbledore's will, she also displayed her incredible store of general knowledge when she mentioned that "Snitches have flesh memories," surprising both Ron and Harry, who had both believed her to know little-to-nothing of Quidditch.

At Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding on 1 August, 1997, Hermione wore a "floaty, lilac-coloured dress with matching high heels" and made her hair "sleek and shiny." She was amused by Fred and George's stories about their late uncle Bilius and shared a friendly exchange with Viktor Krum, to the frustration of Ron. She was happily surprised when Ron quickly asked her to dance, and when Krum asked a disguised Harry whether the two were together, Harry replied "Er...sort of."[11]

Escape from the Burrow[edit | edit source]

Hermione: "Undetectable Extension Charm. Tricky, but I think I've done it okay; anyway, I managed to fit everything we need in here... I told you at the Burrow, I've had the essentials packed for days, you know, in case we needed to make a quick getaway. I packed your rucksack this morning, Harry, after you changed, and put it in here...I just had a feeling...."
Ron: "You're amazing, you are."
— the trio after leaving the Burrow[src]


The wedding was interrupted by Kingsley Shacklebolt's Patronus who told the guests of the fall of the Ministry of Magic to the Death Eaters. Hermione was prepared to make a quick escape, immediately Disapparating herself, Harry, and Ron away from the danger. Hermione also showed great foresight and magical talent when she revealed a small beaded purse on which she had placed an Undetectable Extension Charm. Within it she had packed, amongst other things, clothing, a tent, healing supplies, Harry's Invisibility Cloak, and several useful books. They arrived on the Muggle street, Tottenham Court Road, where Hermione suggested they enter a café.

However, minutes later Hermione unknowingly triggered the Taboo curse that was placed on Voldemort's name, and the trio were thus tracked down by Antonin Dolohov and Thorfinn Rowle. After a brief but violent skirmish, the Death Eaters were subdued, and Hermione modified their memories to throw them off the scent and to maintain Ron's cover story that he was sick with spattergroit and bedridden at home. The three then made their way safely to 12 Grimmauld Place.[11]

Infiltration of the Ministry of Magic[edit | edit source]

After learning from Mundungus Fletcher that Dolores Umbridge had Tom Riddle's mother's locket, one of the seven Horcruxes, in her possession, the trio formed a plan to infiltrate the Ministry and reclaim the locket. Hermione imbibed Polyjuice Potion and transformed to look like Mafalda Hopkirk, a prominent Ministry official. She was forced to sit through the trials of Alderton and Mary Cattermole, innocent Muggle-borns, right alongside Umbridge and Death Eater Yaxley. Hermione tricked Umbridge into telling her about the locket, which she claimed was a Selwyn family heirloom.

When Harry attacked Umbridge in a rage, their cover was blown, but she and Harry managed to free the Muggle-born prisoners and encouraged them to flee the country while Voldemort was in power. Hermione took the locket from Umbridge, replacing it with a copy using the Geminio spell. They met up with Ron again and fled the Ministry, but Yaxley grabbed onto Hermione's arm while they were Disapparating. This forced Hermione to use a Revulsion Jinx to free herself from him, and then to take the trio away from Grimmauld Place.[11]

Ron's departure and Godric's Hollow[edit | edit source]

Ron: "What are you doing? Are you staying, or what?"
Hermione: "I... Yes — yes, I'm staying. Ron, we said we'd go with Harry, we said we'd help —"
Ron: "I get it. You choose him."
Hermione: "Ron, no — please — come back, come back!"
— Hermione shortly before Ron's departure[src]


The locket caused great pain among the three friends due to the negative energy within. They began arguing over petty issues such as cooking, and growing moodier. The negative energy from the locket caused Ron to accuse Harry of poor leadership. They fought physically, although Hermione stopped them before they started casting spells. Ron also accused Hermione of choosing Harry over him, causing him to be jealous and feel left out by his two friends' growing friendship.

By the time she got rid of the shield charm, all she could do was scream for him to come back, without success. Hermione then cried over Ron for more than a week after his departure, although she tried to hide it from Harry. Both were deeply saddened and hurt by their friend's departure, although Hermione more than Harry, as she cried over Ron's departure for weeks.

Hermione and Harry soon decided to go to Godric's Hollow to see the graves of Harry's parents and to speak to historian Bathilda Bagshot, whom they believed might be holding onto Godric Gryffindor's Sword for Harry. Hermione comforted Harry in the graveyard, She nuzzled her head in to the crook between his head and shoulders and conjured roses for the Potters' graves. The pair then went to Bathilda's house, where they were attacked by Nagini, who had been waiting for them in the guise of the old woman, whose corpse had been animated like an Inferius by Voldemort. Hermione rushed to Harry's aid, and the two of them barely escaped before Voldemort himself arrived.

Hermione Apparated to the Forest of Dean, while Harry was overcome with pain and visions of Voldemort's attack on his parents and him in 1981. She used a Severing Charm to remove the locket from Harry and healed the bite Nagini had given him with dittany. Harry's wand had also been broken in the foray, most likely by the Blasting Curse Hermione cast at Nagini. He was heartbroken, but not angry with her, knowing that it was an accident and that Hermione had saved his life.[11]

Ron's return and the Ambush at the Lovegood House[edit | edit source]

Hermione: "Hand over Harry?"
Ron: "No deal, get out of the way, we're leaving."
— Hermione and Ron to Xeno Lovegood at the Lovegood House[src]


Harry and Hermione were reunited with Ron in the Forest of Dean, after Ron heard them talking through the Deluminator Dumbledore had left to him. Ron destroyed the locket Horcrux with Godric Gryffindor's Sword, saving Harry's life and thus receiving forgiveness from him for leaving. Before he destroyed it, however, the locket revealed some of Ron's deepest fears, including that Hermione preferred Harry to him. Hermione, however, was unaware of this, as she had been in the tent while this occurred. Upon seeing Ron returned, she screamed at Ron despite Harry trying to tell her that Ron just saved his life, and punched him until Harry cast a Shield Charm between them with Hermione's wand. She was furious with Ron for days for his abandonment, but gradually warmed up to him again.

The trio then travelled together to Xenophilius Lovegood's home to ask him about the strange symbol in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. They had thought it to be the sign of the Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald, but Xenophilius informed them it was the symbol of the Deathly Hallows.

Shortly after making this discovery, the three friends realised that Luna Lovegood wasn't at home, despite it being the Christmas holidays, and had been away for a long time. Xenophilius revealed to them that Luna had been taken prisoner by Death Eaters and that he planned to betray them in order to get her back. However, in attempting to capture them, Xenophilius made the erumpent horn in his living room (which he had insisted was a Snorkack horn, much to Hermione's annoyance) explode, giving the trio the chance to hide just as Death Eaters Selwyn and Travers arrived. They threatened to kill Luna if they found that Xenophilius had lied about Harry Potter's presence in his home. In a remarkable show of mental and magical dexterity, Hermione concocted the trio's escape while safeguarding Ron's feigned illness and allowing the Death Eaters to glimpse Harry, so that they would not carry out their threat to kill Luna.[11]

Skirmish at Malfoy Manor[edit | edit source]

Bellatrix: "You're lying, filthy Mudblood, and I know it! You have been inside my vault at Gringotts!... What else did you take? Tell me the truth or, I swear, I shall run you through with this knife! What else did you take, what else? ANSWER ME! CRUCIO! How did you get into my vault? Did that dirty little goblin in the cellar help you?"
Hermione: "We only met him tonight! We've never been inside your vault. . . . It isn't the real sword! It's a copy, just a copy!"
— overheard parts of Hermione's interrogation[src]


In the spring of 1998, Hermione, Harry, and Ron were tracked down and captured when Harry had accidentally triggered the Taboo curse by a group of Snatchers, which included the deadly and fierce werewolf Fenrir Greyback, who was dangerously eager to bite Hermione. They were brought to Malfoy Manor and turned over to Bellatrix Lestrange, who immediately panicked at the sight of Godric Gryffindor's Sword. She gave away that the sword and another Horcrux were hidden in her vault at Gringotts in her panic, and proceeded to isolate Hermione and then brutally torture her with the Cruciatus Curse repeatedly as an interrogation method. Ron, who had tried to take her place unsuccessfully, was reduced to sobs by hearing Hermione scream in pain. Hermione, however, would not be crushed, and came up with a fake story that the sword was merely a copy of the real thing, a lie that Harry persuaded the imprisoned goblin Griphook to go along with. Hermione was soon brutally tortured into unconsciousness. With Hermione's moans and screams of pain echoing throughout the manor, Harry and Ron saw no possible hope left. Then suddenly, Dobby came to the rescue of the prisoners in the dungeon. Harry and Ron fought off Peter Pettigrew before racing upstairs to save Hermione and Griphook.

They were forced to drop their wands when Bellatrix held a knife to Hermione's throat. Bellatrix eventually cut through some skin, leaving a long cut on the front of Hermione's neck. Right when Bellatrix was to slit her throat, Dobby returned and sent the chandelier crashing to the floor, enabling Harry and Ron to grab wands and Disapparate with Hermione, Griphook, and Dobby to Shell Cottage, where Bill and Fleur took up residence after their marriage. Unfortunately, Dobby was killed during this escape.[11]

Gringotts break-in[edit | edit source]

Griphook: "As the Dark Lord becomes ever more powerful, your race is set still more firmly above mine! Gringotts falls under wizarding rule, house-elves are slaughtered, and who amongst the wand-carriers protests?"
Hermione Granger: "We do! We protest! And I'm hunted quite as much as any goblin or elf, Griphook! I'm a Mudblood!... Did you know that it was Harry who set Dobby free? Did you know that we've wanted elves to be freed for years? You can't want You-Know-Who defeated more than we do, Griphook!"
— Conversation in Shell Cottage before the break-in.[src]


Hermione, Harry, and Ron stayed at Shell Cottage for some time, whilst Fleur helped Hermione recover from her trauma. Ron didn't leave Hermione's bedside throughout this time. The trio formed a plan to break into the Lestrange vault at Gringotts to retrieve the Horcrux Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, with the reluctant assistance of Griphook. The goblin only agreed to help them in exchange for Gryffindor's Sword; although loath to lose it, Hermione was strongly against deceiving or double-crossing Griphook, who was startled by the care she and Harry had shown for house-elves, since most wizards do not think highly of non-human beings. The trio reluctantly agreed to Griphook's terms.

Once more, Hermione used Polyjuice Potion, containing Bellatrix's hair. She was also forced to use Bellatrix's wand, as her wand had been confiscated by Snatchers, which she very much disliked.

It was determined that Hermione was "too polite" to really impersonate Bellatrix, but the group managed to get into the vault. After many harrowing challenges, and Griphook betraying them out of a belief that they would not have kept to their agreement, Hermione, Ron and Harry escaped on the back of the dragon that was guarding the vault, with another Horcrux in their possession.[11]

Battle of Hogwarts[edit | edit source]

Harry: "Oi! There's a war going on here!"
Ron: "I know, mate, so it's now or never, isn't it?"
Harry Potter to Hermione and Ron Weasley when they kiss during battle.[src]


The trio finally returned to Hogwarts on 2 May, 1998, with the assistance of Aberforth Dumbledore. They were reunited with their friends in the re-formed Dumbledore's Army, who declared their wish to fight the encroaching Death Eater army. While Harry and Luna Lovegood went to Ravenclaw Tower, Hermione and Ron retrieved Basilisk fangs from the Chamber of Secrets in order to use them to destroy Horcruxes, and Hermione destroyed Hufflepuff's Cup.

Soon after reuniting with Harry, Ron expressed concern for the house-elves in the Hogwarts kitchens, prompting Hermione to kiss him. Ron responded with great enthusiasm, but they quickly broke apart when Harry reminded them of their objective.

The trio then entered the Room of Requirement in search for Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem, but were ambushed by Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle, and Vincent Crabbe.

Hermione dodged a Killing Curse and managed to stun Goyle, and then she and Ron dragged him out of the room on broomstick as it went up in flames due to Crabbe's cursed fire, which also destroyed the Horcrux. Harry, Hermione and Ron then witnessed the death of Fred Weasley, which devastated them all.

Despite their grief, the trio continued with the effort to track down Nagini, another Horcrux. On their way, Hermione incapacitated two Death Eaters who were pursuing her, Harry and Ron, and blasted Fenrir Greyback away from an injured Lavender Brown, Lavender still died afterward from her injuries tragically.

The trio was swarmed by Dementors and all had difficulty summoning their Patronuses because of the horror of their recent experiences, but Luna Lovegood, Ernie Macmillan, and Seamus Finnigan came to their assistance. Under Harry's Invisibility Cloak, the three made their way to the Shrieking Shack, where they witnessed Voldemort have Nagini kill Severus Snape.

During the brief pause in fighting, when Voldemort issued an ultimatum to Harry, Hermione comforted Ginny Weasley over Fred (Her older brother's) death. When Lord Voldemort and his army approached with a supposedly dead Harry, Hermione screamed in horror and denial.

The Battle of Hogwarts soon resumed, and Hermione fought Bellatrix Lestrange alongside Ginny and Luna, despite being hindered by using Bellatrix's own wand against her. When Bellatrix nearly killed Ginny, Molly Weasley took over the fight and killed Bellatrix. Hermione witnessed Harry's final defeat of Lord Voldemort, and she and Ron reached him first, overjoyed. Hermione survived the battle relatively unscathed, only suffering minor injuries and burns she received from entering the Lestrange's Vault shortly before the battle.[11]

Later life (1998-2017)[edit | edit source]

In 1998, Hermione went back to Hogwarts to attain her N.E.W.T.s[12]. She was the only one of the trio to do this, and by 2017, nineteen years later, Hermione and Ron were married with two children: Rose and Hugo Weasley. Hermione is also the godmother of Harry and Ginny's eldest child, James. [13]

Both Hermione and Ron attended the 2014 Quidditch World Cup and sat in VIP Box Two. Rita Skeeter noted that Ron had become catatonic at the appearance of the Bulgarian Veela and Hermione had to elbow him in the ribs.

On 1 September, 2017, Hermione and Ron brought their children to King's Cross Station to see Rose off for her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and met Harry, Ginny, and their three children there.

Hermione attained a high position in the Ministry of Magic, first through the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. There, she continued her work with S.P.E.W., working for the rights of underprivileged non-humans such as house-elves. She then went on to become Deputy Head[3] of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and assisted the Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt in eradicating the old laws biased in favour of pure-bloods. Along with Harry and Ron, she helped to revolutionise the Ministry and reform the wizarding world. At some point, Hermione, Harry and Ron were all featured on Chocolate Frog Cards for their accomplishments.[14]

Hermione also eventually translated The Tales of Beedle the Bard from the original, which was written in runes and which Albus Dumbledore bequeathed to her in his will in 1997. Her new translation was published in 2008 and included notes on each tale written by Dumbledore before his death; these notes were lent to Hermione by her former professor, Hogwarts headmistress Minerva McGonagall.[15]

Physical appearance[edit | edit source]

Hermione was described as being quite pretty when she made an effort at it,[9] but usually she hid her looks under a bushy hairstyle and a mountainful of books which she kept slung on her back.[5] She had brown eyes, a bossy sort of voice and, as a child, rather large front teeth. Hermione had the school nurse Madame Pomfrey magically shrink them in 1994 after she was accidentally struck with a Densaugeo spell, making it unnecessary for her to receive the braces her parents had originally intended for her. When angered, her voice would become slightly shrill.[6]

Hermione never gave much attention to her appearance, except when she used great care in fixing her hair for the Yule Ball using Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, which she later remarked was too much work to use every day. Many of her fellow students were stunned by how pretty Hermione looked that evening, and she received many positive comments from her classmates on her appearance.[9] She kept her hair long, as it was once described as a "long mane of brown hair,"[10] and sometimes tied it back in a plait.[11]

Clothing-wise, Hermione generally wore her school uniform under her robes. Otherwise, she dressed casually. For the Yule Ball, however, she wore a beautiful blue dress of floaty fabrics, and a lilac dress at the wedding of Bill and Fleur.

Hermione's arm was scarred when Bellatrix Lestrange carved the word "Mudblood" into her skin with a knife when she, Harry and Ron were captured at Malfoy Manor in the spring of 1998. It is unknown if this scar ever completely healed.

Personality and traits[edit | edit source]

Horace Slughorn: "Oho! 'One of my best friends is Muggle-born, and she's the best in our year!' I'm assuming this is the very friend of whom you spoke, Harry?"
Harry Potter: "Yes, sir."
Horace Slughorn: "Well, well, take 20 well-earned points for Gryffindor, Miss Granger."
— After Hermione impresses Professor Slughorn in Potions[src]


Hermione was noted for being extremely intelligent and hard-working, coming out on top in most of her classes and continuously aiding Harry and Ron in their adventures. She was so studious that the school gave her a Time-Turner in her third year, a device that rewinds time so that she could take extra courses.[8] Because of her efficiency, she often had time to do hobby work on the side, such as preparing a defence for Buckbeak to save him from execution, and creating S.P.E.W., an organisation promoting the freedom of house-elves.[9] Such acts demonstrate Hermione's social conscience, tenacity, and compassion. Unlike most wizards who depended solely on their magical ability, Hermione readily relied on logic. Although this often helped her cleverly deduce information that many others missed, such as Remus Lupin's lycanthropy,[8] Hermione's emphasis on logic also made her skeptical about accepting anything without proof, as opposed to Harry who would come to intuitive conclusions. For example, she completely dismissed the idea of the Deathly Hallows, refusing to believe in them without physical evidence.[11]

That's what Hermione does. When in doubt, go to the library.

–Ron's opinion of Hermione's personality, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Hermione was quite responsible, perfectionistic and well put-together, which led to her being made a prefect during her fifth year. Throughout her entire school career, Hermione was insistent on order and steadfastly devoted to the rules, at the expense of her popularity. Her sense of humor was limited; she frequently expressed disapproval over Fred and George's practical jokes and threatened to put them in detention for selling prank items in the common room. She often attempted to act as the voice of reason among her more impulsive friends, to varying levels of success.  However, in spite of her straightlaced disposition, Hermione was not above using coersion and threats to get what she wanted, as is evidenced by her blackmailing Rita Skeeter into writing a good article about Harry.[7] Hermione was not afraid to stand up to her friends when she thought it was in their best interests, or when she felt they were wrong; she risked angering Harry by getting his Firebolt confiscated because she feared it might be jinxed,[8] and argued with both him and Ginny over his use of the shady Half Blood Prince's textbook.[10] Hermione was very determined and focused, in that she "always [kept] her attention focused on the job that must be done."[16] Her refusal to break under torture shows her strength of willpower.[11]

Hermione’s immense workload finally seemed to be getting to her. Every night, without fail, Hermione was to be seen in a corner of the common room, several tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of extensive notes; she barely spoke to anybody and snapped when she was interrupted.

–Hermione's workload at school when she used the Time-Turner, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Because of her opinionated, interfering nature, Hermione had the reputation for being a bossy know-it-all.  Her sometimes abrasive attitude masked deep insecurities and fear of failure, as personified by her Boggart.[17] Hermione felt the need to prove herself, perhaps partly because of how many people in wizarding society looked down on Muggle-borns. She did not let anyone bully her about this, however, and ignored bigots like Draco Malfoy. In her fifth year, she also became one of the few people to call Voldemort by name.[6] Despite her confidence in her abilities, she was not arrogant or conceited, and helped her classmates with their schoolwork whenever she could.

Hermione: "I'm hunted quite as much as any goblin or elf, Griphook! I'm a Mudblood!"
Ron: "Don't call yourself—"
Hermione: "Why shouldn't I? Mudblood, and proud of it!"
— Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley speaking to Griphook[src]


Hermione demonstrated her bravery many times when facing danger, though she initially showed a tendency toward mild panic in the sudden situations[5] She was extremely loyal to her friends, risking her life frequently to help them and standing by Harry even when no one else did. She also gave them advice rather often, such as in trying to make Harry understand Cho Chang's behaviour on their date,[6] and in helping Ginny deal with her crush on Harry;[10] this once prompted Ron to advise her to write a book to translate all the "mad things" girls do so that boys could understand them.[6] Hermione was quite blunt with her opinions, sometimes to the point of being tactless; for example, her attempt to comfort Lavender Brown about the death of her rabbit did not go over well,[8] and her honesty when dealing with centaurs in 1996 nearly landed her and Harry in serious trouble.[6] Despite this, Hermione was generally sensitive to others' emotions, and would lie when she had to, though she was not a skilled liar.[6]

Hermione also tended to be rather argumentative, a trait most evident in her interactions with Ron. Although she was generally not as short-tempered as her friends, she displayed a formidable one on several occasions, such as slapping Draco Malfoy in defence of Hagrid,[8] sabotaging Cormac McLaggen's tryout as a Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team after he insulted Ron and Ginny, conjuring a flock of canaries to attack Ron in their sixth year[10] and physically attacking Ron when he briefly abandoned her and Harry during their hunt for Horcruxes.[11]

Magical abilities and skills[edit | edit source]

An' they haven't invented a spell our Hermione can' do.

Rubeus Hagrid after Malfoy calls her a Mudblood, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Hermione proved to be a witch of exceptional skill, ability, power and talent. Even before she began her education at Hogwarts, she practised some simple spells which all worked.[5] Professor Remus Lupin, who taught Defence Against the Dark Arts in her third year at Hogwarts, claimed that Hermione was the cleverest witch of her age he had ever met;[8] a notable remark, considering that Remus once shared classes with the very talented Lily Evans in his days as a Hogwarts student. The British witch's magical capability easily surpassed almost very single student in her year, challenged only by a select few. Hermione was considered a "borderline genius"[18] and was the most talented witch in her year at Hogwarts.

One of my best friends is Muggle-born, and she's that best in our year.

Harry Potter to Horace Slughorn regarding Hermione., Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

  • Non-verbal and wandless magic: Hermione became highly skilled at non-verbal magic in her sixth year, being the first to succeed at it in her Defence Against the Dark Arts class and quickly becoming so good at non-verbal incantations that she did not need to say the words aloud for a wide variety of spells.[10] Hermione was known to have practiced wandless magic in her years at Hogwarts. She did not need the aid of a wand or magical instrument for a wide variety of spells.[10]
You're a little scary sometimes, you know that. Brilliant. But scary.

Ron Weasley to Hermione in their first year., Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)

  • Duelling: Hermione demonstrated her fighting ability on numerous occasions, showing remarkable duelling skill for her age. Although she was incapacitated relatively early in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Hermione removed two Death Eaters from the fight in that short time.[6] By the time she accompanied Ron and Harry on the search for the Horcruxes, her spell-work was swifter than opponents such as Mundungus Fletcher and at least two Death Eaters. She defeated Antonin Dolohov and Gregory Goyle, defended Harry from Nagini, repelled Yaxley when he forcibly Disapparated with her, and blasted Fenrir Greyback away from an injured Lavender Brown. She also saved Harry twice in the Horcrux hunt, In which she Blasted Nagini away from him and Ron one time when the Trio went to Xenophilius Lovegood. She defeated many Death Eaters during the Battle of Hogwarts and also held her own against Bellatrix Lestrange, despite being handicapped by using Bellatrix's own wand against her. It should also be noted that she fought Bellatrix alongside Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood. She even proved to be a challenge for Bellatrix and put on the defence for a brief time during the duel, but eventually gained the upper towards the end of the duel. Hermione also had very fast reflexes when it came to wand work; for instance, she drew her wand and placed a Shield Charm between Harry and Ron when they were quarrelling before either of them could even draw their wands in 1997, and when the trio was spotted by Death Eaters during the Battle of Hogwarts, she was the first to react, sending them to safety.[11] Hermione was also able to magically manipulate objects around herself to incapacitate or evade others.[19] Her duelling style was creative and unpredictable, mixing non-combat spells along with more conventional combative spells to overcome her opponents.
  • Defence Against the Dark Arts: Hermione was skilled in this subject as she was able to achieve an 'Exceeds Expectations' in her O.W.L. In their first year she mastered Body-Bind Curse. In their third year when she took Professor Lupin's exam, Harry saw that she did everything perfectly except for the part of fighting the Boggart. Hermione mastered all the spells taught by Harry in their fifth year in Dumbledore's Army. She mastered the Stunning Spell, Impediment Jinx, and various other jinxes and hexes. She was capable of using powerful spells such as the Blasting Curse. Despite this aptitude, this was the one subject Harry Potter was better than her at, something she freely acknowledged. If Hermione became an Auror she would have excelled but instead dedicated herself to rebuilding the wizard laws.
Harry Potter: "It's better we wipe their memories."
Ronald Weasley: "You're the boss. Hermione...you're the best at spells."
— Harry and Ron discussing what to do with Dolohov and Rowle after the Luchino Caffe Duel[src]


  • Charms: Until she began studying Arithmancy in her third year, Hermione's favourite subject was Charms, and indeed some of her most impressive magical feats were charms. She not only achieved an 'Outstanding' O.W.L. but also received a hundred and twelve percent in her first year Charms exam. Her array of protective charms defended her, Harry, and Ron for almost a year while they were searching for Voldemort's Horcruxes, while several far more experienced wizards were captured within months. She also enchanted her small handbag with an Undetectable Extension Charm to allow her to carry more items in the bag than physically allowed, which allowed her, Harry and Ron to survive the months spent out in the open. Hermione managed to cast the Memory Charm successfully multiple times after having only read the theory behind it,[11] despite even very powerful wizards such as Barty Crouch Sr. having difficulty with it when they have not been trained.[20] Hermione's Memory Charms on Antonin Dolohov and Thorfinn Rowle held even when they were subjected to the Cruciatus Curse,[21]. Hermione had a wide knowledge and talent for the powerful shield charms she casted outside their tent each day while hunting for horcruxes. However, the one charm she always had trouble with was the Patronus Charm, something Harry noted when she tried casting it when he, Hermione and Ron infiltrated the Ministry of Magic. Hermione was noted to have a speciality in creating portable, waterproof fires. In her first year, Hermione used these fires, kept in a jar, to keep the trio warm during winter, and also used it to distract Severus Snape, whom she thought was jinxing Harry Potter's broom during his first Quidditch match. These flames were used again in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom to light the cauldron above one of the toilets while Polyjuice Potion was brewed in her second year so that Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley could interrogate Draco Malfoy about the Heir of Slytherin.Hermione even learned how to cast a corporeal Patronus Charm in her fifth year, and was the first to master the advanced spell in Dumbledore's Army under Harry's tutelage. It took the form of an otter.[6] Harry once commented that the Patronus Charm was the only spell Hermione ever had trouble with,[11] perhaps indicating that although she was skilled with the charm, it did not come as easily to her as most other spells as she perhaps lacked the self-confidence. During her sixth year, Hermione successfully cast the Confundus Charm on a broom, a charm so difficult Professor Snape had to concentrate to cast it.[11] Hermione also mentioned in 1997 that she had been practising how to use her Patronus for messaging[11], but it is unknown if she ever actually carried this out.
  • Potions: Hermione was able to brew the very advanced and difficult Polyjuice Potion, by the time she was in second year for her, Harry, and Ron to find the truth about the Chamber of Secrets from Draco Malfoy by disguising themselves as his friends.[7] She achieved an 'Outstanding' on her Potions O.W.L. and was only one of twelve to advance to N.E.W.T.-level. She was able to identify potions and their effects quickly after having only read about them. She was the only one in her sixth year class who understood Golpalott's Third Law, without need for further explaination and was able to compose an anidote containing fifty-two ingredients, including a chunk of her own hair. The only time she was ever out-smarted in potions was in her sixth year by Harry Potter because of using Half-Blood Prince's old copy of the Advanced Potion-Making textbook that was full of hints and scribbles which helped Harry excel.[10]
...Only Hermione Granger had made any difference to her match; Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy...

–Hermione's achievement during her first Transfiguration lesson in 1991, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

  • Dark charms: Hermione was not known for her ability to cast Dark magic and the extent of her ability within this magical discipline is truly unknown (however, one would assume given her borderline genius status that she was no slouch). Still, she must have had some ability as she was ability to come up with a very sophisticated jinx that would deform the face of one would betrayed the D.A.. She was also able to successfully cast a Stinging Hex at a moment's notice. In her fourth year she was also able to cast the Leg-Locker Curse in her first year and the Jelly-Legs Jinx in her sixth.
  • Apparition: Hermione was the first in her class to Apparate successfully, she had achieved Apparition twice in that time and passed her test on the first attempt. According to Ron, her performance was "perfect" and the instructor praised her talent greatly.[10] While on the hunt for the Horcruxes with Harry and Ron, Hermione frequently Apparated and Disapparated the three of them, twice when they were falling through the air.[11]
  • Herbology: Hermione earned an 'Outstanding' O.W.L. in this subject, thus showing she has great talent in this field as well. She was particularly skilled in spells related to magical plants. In her first year, she saved Harry and Ron from some Devil's Snare in the Underground Chambers by conjuring Bluebell Flames. She also had knowledge of various different plants; for example, in her second year, she was the only one who knew what the Mandrake root was and what it did.
  • Arithmancy: This was Hermione's favourite subject and, considering she was one of the few people to take this subject, she must have skill in this field, too. She earned an 'Outstanding' O.W.L and took the subject to N.E.W.T.-level.
  • Logical thinking and intelligence: Hermione had a mastery of logic that most wizards lacked, as she stated that "a lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic". In 1992, Hermione was able to use logic to get Harry Potter past a protective measure that was taken to protect the Philosopher's Stone by Severus Snape. Hermione was noted to be a "borderline genius",[18] getting top scores in every class, and getting 'Outstanding' in all her O.W.L.s except Defence Against the Dark Arts. However, her intelligence could be a handicap, as she tended to rely more heavily on facts and information that could be proven by background analysis rather than making intuitive leaps. She often provided the trio with vital information when carrying out research into the various mysteries they faced; for example, in her second year, she was the one to figure out through research that the monster in the Chamber of Secrets was a Basilisk and in her third that Professor Lupin was a werewolf. Harry was generally the one to put the pieces together to create the final picture necessary to explain recent events.
  • Muggle Studies (knowledge): This was one of the subjects Hermione chose to take in her third year with the aid of a Time-Turner but dropped the subject after a year. Hermione was a Muggle-born witch anyway, and so knew a great deal about Muggles already. She was seemingly good at it because she could bring another point of view to the class-room and the lessons. She achieved a score of over 300% on her final exam in third year.
  • Astronomy: Hermione was known to have gained an 'Outstanding' O.W.L. in this subject, but she decided not to continue with it at N.E.W.T.-level. She often helped Harry Potter and Ron Weasley do their homework as they often didn't remember the required facts.
  • History of Magic: Hermione was very interested in the history of the wizarding world from a young age. Even before starting at Hogwarts, she bought several books and learned them by heart, including Hogwarts: A History. She was one of very few students who payed attention to Professor Binns' lectures. She earned an 'Outstanding' O.W.L. in the subject, which was hard to do, considering how boring the class was said to be. She was also known to take excellent notes in the class.
  • Care of Magical Creatures: Hermione earned an 'Outstanding' O.W.L. in Care of Magical Creatures. She had no problem interacting with Buckbeak in her third year, but stated in her sixth that he scared her.

Possessions[edit | edit source]

Relationships[edit | edit source]

Family[edit | edit source]

Parents[edit | edit source]

Harry: "I thought you were skiing with your mum and dad."
Hermione: "Well, to tell you the truth, skiing's not really my thing. So I've come for Christmas... Anyway, Mum and Dad are a bit disappointed, but I've told them that everyone who's serious about the exams is staying at Hogwarts to study. They want me to do well, they'll understand."
— Hermione telling Harry Potter about changing her plans for the 1995 Christmas holidays[src]


Mr and Mrs Granger were Muggle dentists who seemed proud of their witch daughter. They appeared to be accepting of the wizarding world, as they went shopping with Hermione in Diagon Alley and allowed her to spend several holidays with the Weasley family,[7] but did not approve of their daughter using magic as a quick-fix, as indicated by their not allowing Hermione to magically fix her teeth.[9] They correspond by owl post with their daughter throughout the school year,[6] but other than one holiday in France with her parents, Hermione spent almost all of her time in the wizarding world. In 1995, she planned to go skiing with them during the Christmas holidays, but ended up going to 12 Grimmauld Place to try to cheer Harry up instead. Hermione told her parents that the reason for her cancelling was to study for exams, indicating that her parents expected her to do well in school and were probably not aware of the extent of their daughter's involvement in activities relating to the Second Wizarding War.[6]

Assuming I survive our hunt for the Horcruxes, I'll find Mum and Dad and lift the enchantment. If I don't... well, I think I've cast a good enough charm to keep them safe and happy. Wendell and Monica Wilkins don't know that they've got a daughter, you see.

–Hermione on her parents' memory modification, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

To protect them during the height of the war, Hermione modified her parents' memories in 1997 to make them believe they were entirely different people, and they left the country.[11] After the war, she found them in Australia and restored their memories.

Harry Potter[edit | edit source]

You're a great wizard Harry, you really are.

–Hermione's opinion of Harry, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Hermione became friends with Harry Potter after he and Ron Weasley saved her from a Mountain Troll in their first year.[5] They tended to get along very well, though Harry occasionally became irritated with Hermione's nagging and she sometimes felt he took Ron's side when she was fighting with their other best friend. However, their only notable row was over Hermione getting Harry's Firebolt confiscated in their third year, because she felt it might be a trap. Harry and Ron reconciled with Hermione after Hagrid scolded them for their treatment of her.

Shortly afterwards, Hermione led Harry through time-travel, and together they rescued Sirius Black and Buckbeak; Hermione breaking the rules of using her Time-Turner, something she admitted was incredibly dangerous, demonstrated the strength of her friendship with Harry.[8] The following year, Hermione was the only student who believed Harry when he told her he had not put his name in the Goblet of Fire, and spent much of the Triwizard Tournament teaching Harry useful spells and trying to reconcile him and Ron.[9]

Hermione: "You said to us once before that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We've had time, haven't we?"
Ron: "We're with you, whatever happens."
— Hermione and Ron commit to the Horcrux hunt with Harry[src]


Harry has always been protective over Hermione. Hermione returns the favour by always being loyal to him, helping and supporting him with everything, and was fiercely protective of him; for example, she snapped at Lavender Brown for doubting Harry's contention that Voldemort had returned, and interceded when Dolores Umbridge threatened to use the Cruciatus Curse on Harry, coming up with a lie that eventually freed them from Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad.[6] She stuck by Harry even when Ron, her other best friend and her romantic interest, temporarily left during the search for the Horcruxes and asked her to go with him.[11] Harry, for his part, is quick to defend Hermione from Cho Chang, Draco Malfoy, and others who insult her, protects her instinctively in dangerous situations, and shows his pride in her intellect on numerous occasions. One example is in their fifth year when Harry snapped angrily at Dolores Umbridge for taking five points from Gryffindor when Hermione was giving true opinions on Defense Against the Dark Arts and contradicting Wilbert Slinkhard's opinions in his textbook Defensive Magical Theory, though this was because Umbridge was simply teaching theory as she refused to teach practical magic due to her belief that Dumbledore was trying to take on the Ministry of Magic.

Others, including Ron, Cho Chang, Viktor Krum, Mrs Weasley, Professor Dumbledore, and several of their classmates have occasionally mistaken Harry and Hermione's relationship to be a romantic one, given their closeness and expressions of physical affection, such as Hermione kissing Harry on the cheek after the Triwizard Tournament, usually being the first to be next to his bed whenever he is hurt or injured, choosing to stay with him rather than leaving with Ron, embracing each other, and holding hands.[9][23]Harry explained to Ron that they loved each other like siblings;[11] notably, both were only children raised in the Muggle world. During the time the two travelled together without Ron, during the search for the Horcruxes, Hermione and Harry experienced some "charged moments," and "shared something very intense" of which no one else was a part of.[24] However, their relationship ultimately remained platonic.[25]

Hermione and Harry remained best friends into adulthood, and eventually became siblings in-law when Hermione married Ron Weasley and Harry married Ginny Weasley. Hermione was also the aunt and godmother of Harry's three children: James Sirius, Albus Severus and Lily Luna.

It is interesting to note that Albus Dumbledore's final plan to defeat Lord Voldemort, in which Harry would learn the story of the Deathly Hallows in time to use them against Voldemort, revolved not only around Harry himself, but Hermione as well. Dumbledore knew that Harry was too passionate and angry to be able to keep from attempting to become Master of Death, and so entrusted The Tales of Beedle the Bard to Hermione, so that she would learn of the Hallows' symbol first and would be able to caution and guide Harry down the path of reason.

Ron Weasley[edit | edit source]

Hermione: "I can't come with you because I'm already going with someone."
Ron: "No, you're not! You just said that to get rid of Neville!"
Hermione: "Oh did I? Just because it's taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted I'm a girl!"
— Ron trying to persuade Hermione to go to the Yule Ball with him[src]


Ronald Weasley was, essentially, the love of Hermione's life. Although their relationship would have many ups and downs, Hermione and Ron Weasley were good friends for most of their years at Hogwarts, and of course, were best friends with Harry Potter, who was usually a mediator in their disputes. They tended to bicker frequently, though they usually got over their arguments, which tended to be minor or about trivial issues. As they grew older and matured, Ron and Hermione tended to fight less often and become more in touch with their feelings for each other. Hermione sometimes had the tendency of calling Ron "Ronald". Their first major falling-out was in their third year, when Ron accused Hermione's pet cat Crookshanks of eating his pet rat Scabbers.[8]

Hints of their feelings were also shown in their third year as after Ron saw Black standing over him with a knife, Hermione was shocked and scared the most and even cried. They were both very awkward and embarrassed at times, being insecure with their own feelings for each other, and Ron was frequently jealous that Harry and Hermione liked each other. Ron was used to always being in Harry's shadow and didn't want the girl he liked to be also taken from him by his best friend. Ron and Hermione's relationship again suffered when Ron began dating Lavender Brown in 1996, though the two reconciled after Ron was accidentally poisoned, leaving Hermione shaken. Ron's relationship with Lavender ended soon after, and both he and Hermione were more content for it.[10]

Ron, you are the most insensitive wart I have ever had the misfortune to meet

–Hermione tells Ron off for his insensitivity with girl's feelings (in this case, Cho Chang's) in a dignified voice, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Hints of romantic feelings between the two could be seen as early as their second year, as Ron was particularly protective of Hermione and disgusted by her crush on Gilderoy Lockhart.[7] During the Yule Ball in 1994, Hermione was affronted by Ron's clumsy attempt to ask her to go with him, and Ron was jealous of her attendance with Viktor Krum; this jealousy would persist for years.

In turn, Hermione was jealous of Ron's crush on Fleur Delacour, though expressed it in a subtler way.

In their fifth year, Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek before the Quidditch Tournament, to which he reacted by being "puzzled" and touching the spot where she kissed him. During Gryffindor's Quidditch try-outs in their sixth year, Hermione also confunded Cormac McLaggen to increase Ron's chances of being made the team's Keeper. Also, Hermione became jealous (but she tried to conceal it) when Ron began dating Lavender Brown and kissing her frequently.

Hermione: "I came running after you! I called you! I begged you to come back!"
Ron: "I know. Hermione, I'm sorry, I'm really—"
Hermione: "Oh, you're sorry! You came back after weeks — weeks — and you think it's all going to be all right if you just say sorry?... Weeks and weeks, we could have been dead"
— Hermione and Ron after the latter's return to her and Harry[src]

By the summer of 1997, the two were closer than ever and "sort of" together, according to Harry. They danced together at Bill and Fleur's wedding, and were generally kinder to one another. During the hunt for the Horcruxes, Ron comforted Hermione several times by putting his arm around her, and Harry believed that they might have fallen asleep holding hands. Hermione was extremely upset when Ron temporarily left her and Harry, crying often, and she was absolutely furious with him when he returned. It was also revealed, through a vision caused by the locket Horcrux, that one of Ron's deepest fears was that Hermione preferred Harry to him.

The two eventually made up, and Hermione initiated a kiss during the Battle of Hogwarts, when Ron suggested saving the house-elves and not ordering them to fight for wizards. Hermione, who had been a promoter of house-elf rights since her fourth year and even started her own society to help house-elves (the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare) was so delighted at Ron's unexpected display of sensitivity that she kissed him on the lips, something that was met with surprise, eagerness and enthusiasm, but caused the pair to become embarrassed after Harry asked them to "hold it in".

Some people had expected Ron and Hermione to become more than friends much sooner (when Ron was in the hospital wing after being poisoned and Hermione stayed with him holding his hand, Ginny said "About time, don't you think?") and Harry Potter had even thought that they would start dating in their sixth year. In 1997, when the Trio was captured by Snatchers and brought to Malfoy Manor, Fenrir Greyback mistakenly called Ron Hermione's boyfriend when she tried to protect him. Also, Ron screamed and yelled and was in terrible distress when he heard Hermione being tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange in Malfoy Manor. The pair eventually married and had two children, Rose and Hugo Weasley.[11]

Ginny Weasley[edit | edit source]

Ginny: "Hermione told me to get on with life, maybe go out with some other people, relax a bit around you, because I never used to be able to talk if you were in the room, remember? And she thought you might take a bit more notice if I was a bit more — myself."
Harry: "Smart girl, that Hermione."
— Ginny to Harry[src]


Ginny Weasley was Hermione's best female friend. The two grew close when Hermione stayed in Ginny's room at the Burrow during her many summertime visits. Ginny was the only one Hermione told about being asked to the Yule Ball by Viktor Krum,[9] while Hermione was the only one who knew that Ginny had been learning to fly in secret for years.[6] She also gave Ginny advice about dealing with her feelings for Harry — advice that eventually led to the two dating[10], and eventually marrying. Hermione comforted Ginny after an encounter with Dementors upset her in 1993,[8] and after the death of her brother Fred in 1998.[11] However, Hermione would not have been afraid to stand up to Ginny when she felt that Ginny was wrong. The two remained very close after the war and eventually became sisters-in-law when Hermione married Ron, making her an aunt to Ginny's three children, James, Albus, and Lily, as well as being chosen to be godmother to Ginny's eldest son James, and making Ginny Rose and Hugo's aunt and almost certainly Rose's godmother.

Weasley family[edit | edit source]

Because of her friendships with Ron and Ginny Weasley, Hermione became friendly with the entire Weasley family. She spent a portion of many of her summer and Christmas holidays at their home of the Burrow, and attended some family outings with them, such as shopping for school supplies in Diagon Alley and attending the 1994 Quidditch World Cup with them. Arthur Weasley was fascinated by the Muggle world and thus Hermione's background, and even invited Hermione's parents for a drink upon first meeting them. Molly Weasley was fond of Hermione, though she treated her coldly for a brief time after Rita Skeeter printed lies about Hermione toying with the hearts of Harry Potter and Viktor Krum, much to Hermione's bewilderment. After Harry explained that the stories were false, Mrs Weasley once again warmed up to Hermione. Also, she and Percy Weasley were considered to be on good terms until their fight over elf rights.

Hermione: "A genius like Dumbledore couldn't possibly be fooled by a dodge as pathetically dim-witted as an ageing potion."
George: "Ah, but that's why it's so brilliant! Because it's so pathetically dim-witted."
— Hermione and George[src]


Fred and George Weasley seemed to regard Hermione and Harry almost like other younger siblings, teasing them as well as being protective of them. When Draco Malfoy called Hermione a "Mudblood" in 1992, the twins were outraged, and attempted to attack him.[7] Although Hermione disapproved of some of their antics, trying to use her status as a prefect to keep them in line, she still got on well with them. Hermione once argued with them that the Ageing Potion they planned on using to trick the age line protecting the Goblet of Fire wouldn't work because Dumbledore would have already thought of a foolish ageing potion. They didn't listen and tried to cross the line which resulted in them being thrown back and grow long, white beards.The only time she was notably angry with them was when they tested out their Skiving Snackboxes on unsuspecting first year students; though the twins initially scoffed at her concerns and her ability to make them stop, they backed down when she threatened to tell their mother.

However, Hermione still admired the cleverness and creativity of their spell work,[6] once remarking that they could do some "extraordinary magic," which Fred was flattered enough by to offer Hermione material from their joke shop free of charge.[10] Fred and George also tried to get Hermione to relax, joking around with her about things such as their late uncle Bilius's penchant for making mischief at weddings.[11] Hermione was devastated when Fred was killed during the Battle of Hogwarts. Hermione was not as close to the other Weasley siblings, though she was invited to Bill's wedding to Fleur Delacour in 1997.

With her marriage to Ron, Hermione became a part of the Weasley family herself.

Fleur Delacour[edit | edit source]

Hermione first met Fleur Delacour, an incredibly beautiful, French, part-Veela witch, in 1994, during the Triwizard Tournament. Hermione disliked Fleur almost immediately, as she was given to fussily and loudly criticizing nearly everything at Hogwarts, from the weather, to the decoration and food. The fact that Ron had a little bit of a crush on Fleur didn't help.

Hermione, like Ginny and Mrs Weasley, was infuriated by Fleur's arrogance and constant complaining when Bill Weasley sent Fleur, his then fiancée, to the Burrow to get to know his family. However, when Fleur responded to Bill becoming permanently disfigured by Fenrir Greyback with indignant denial that Bill's appearance would in any way effect their marital plans, Hermione most likely set her feelings aside.

Despite seeming rather inconsiderate and self-centred, Fleur proved to be courageous and ultimately caring, even selfless, in her own way. She put her life in danger by posing as one of Harry's decoys in the Battle of the Seven Potters, and after the Battle of Malfoy Manor, Hermione, Harry and Ron, along with Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, and an injured Garrick Ollivander and Griphook, stayed with Bill and Fleur for a month at Shell Cottage, where Fleur took care of them all like a mother. Later, Fleur became Hermione's sister-in-law through her marriage to Bill Weasley, and Hermione's marriage to Ron Weasley.

Children[edit | edit source]

Ron: "If you're not in Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you. But no pressure!"
Hermione and Ginny: "He doesn't mean it..."
— Hermione and Ginny reassuring Rose and Albus after Ron's joke[src]


After the Second Wizarding War, Hermione had two children with Ron Weasley, a daughter named Rose and a son named Hugo.

Rose started her first year at Hogwarts in 2017, along with her cousin, Albus. Ron stated that Rose had inherited her mother's brains.

Hermione was probably very close to Rose because she was also described as smart, yet not a complete know-it-all.

Hugo was born in 2006 or 2007. He most likely inherited his father's Quidditch skills, as he is noted to fly a lot with his cousins Albus Potter and James Potter. He also appears to have a quiet demeanour.

Nieces and nephews[edit | edit source]

As four of Ron Weasley's five surviving siblings were married by 2017, Hermione had quite a few nieces and nephews through her husband: Harry and Ginny had three children (James, Albus and Lily), as did Bill and Fleur (Victoire, Dominique and Louis), while George and Angelina Johnson had a son and a daughter (Fred and Roxanne), and Percy Weasley had two daughters (Molly and Lucy) with his wife, Audrey. Victoire Weasley, one of Fleur and Bill's daughters, was seen kissing Teddy Lupin at King's Cross Station, by James Potter, Hermione's nephew and godson. Hermione visited them all on many occasions.

Neville Longbottom[edit | edit source]

Phineas Nigellus: "Exactly what claim did the Weasley girl have upon it? She deserved her punishment, as did the idiot Longbottom and the Lovegood oddity!"
Hermione: "Neville is not an idiot and Luna is not an oddity!"
— The portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black discussing the attempted theft of Gryffindor's Sword[src]


Hermione was good friends with Neville Longbottom. They met on the train to Hogwarts during their first year and she helped him search for his toad Trevor.[5] Hermione helped Neville many times with their school work, particularly with Potions, as Professor Snape noted that she was often "hissing instructions in his ear."[8] In their fourth year, Hermione noticed Neville's horrified reaction to witnessing the Cruciatus Curse be performed on a spider by Professor Alastor Moody (actually Barty Crouch Jr.), and shrieked for the teacher to stop. That same year, Neville asked Hermione to attend the Yule Ball with him, as she had "always been really nice" to him, though she had already agreed to accompany Viktor Krum.[9]

Hermione often fiercely defended Neville when others insulted him, and her friendship and support, as well as that of other D.A. members, likely contributed to Neville gradually gaining self-confidence and courage.[11] Neville was obviously very fond of Hermione, and appreciative of her kindness and all the help she had given him. It was hinted that he spoke of her frequently to his grandmother, Augusta Longbottom, who seemed to already know a good deal about Hermione when they first met at Saint Mungo's in 1995. Following the war, they kept in touch.

Luna Lovegood[edit | edit source]

Hermione: "What about Luna?"
Ron: "Well, if they're telling the truth and she's still alive —"
Hermione: "Don't say that, don't say it! She must be alive, she must!"
— Hermione, Ron and Harry after their escape from the Lovegood House[src]


Although Hermione rarely saw eye-to-eye with Luna Lovegood due to their very different world views and beliefs, the two became really good friends through Dumbledore's Army. Hermione first met Luna on the Hogwarts Express in 1995; she insulted The Quibbler, but backtracked when Luna told her that her father was the editor. Hermione was frustrated with Luna's belief in all manner of things without proof or logical grounds, but eventually simply accepted their differences, telling Luna that her planned trip to Sweden in search of a Crumple-Horned Snorkack sounded "lovely." [6]

The following year, Luna comforted Hermione when she was upset over her fight with Ron.[10] Hermione was one of the five portraits Luna painted — along with Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville — and hung from her bedroom ceiling, the word “friends” linking them in gold writing. When Xenophilius Lovegood attempted to turn Harry, Ron, and Hermione over to Death Eaters in exchange for his daughter's safety, Hermione engineered their escape so that the Death Eaters saw Harry briefly, thus ensuring that both Luna and her father were not harmed. Despite disagreeing with Luna on many things herself, Hermione defended her when others insulted her; for example, she tried to kick Ron for teasing Luna about Gurdyroots at the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour, and snapped at the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black for calling Luna an oddity. The two girls remained close friends in adulthood and saw each other regularly. Luna may be one of the best female friends of Hermione (along with Ginny), as she was only seen with these girls during her school-time at Hogwarts. [11]

Minerva McGonagall[edit | edit source]

Professor McGonagall: "Potter! Weasley! What are you doing?"
Harry: "Hermione. We haven't seen her for ages, Professor, and we thought we'd sneak into the hospital wing, you know, and tell her the Mandrakes are nearly ready and, er, not to worry."
Professor McGonagall: "Of course. Of course, I realise this has all been hardest on the friends of those who have been… I quite understand. Yes, Potter, of course you may visit Miss Granger, I will inform Professor Binns where you've gone. Tell Madam Pomfrey I have given you permission."
— Professor Minerva McGonagall softening when Harry and Ron tell her they want to visit Hermione[src]


Professor Minerva McGonagall took a shine to Hermione from the first class she had with her, granting the first-year student in her house one of her "rare smiles" when Hermione successfully transfigured a match into a needle early on in the lesson and long before any other student. She had high expectations for Hermione, and was thus disappointed in her when Hermione claimed she tried to fight the troll that entered the school in 1991 on her own, in order to cover up for Harry and Ron. Whenever Hermione and her friends would get into trouble, McGonagall almost inevitably looked to Hermione to be the most sensible one.[5]

McGonagall was noticeably upset when Hermione was petrified in 1993, even granting Harry and Ron permission to skip a class so they could visit Hermione in the hospital wing.[7] The following school year, she helped arrange for Hermione to be granted a Time-Turner to take extra classes.[8] When the professor was injured with four Stunning Spells in 1996, Hermione was very upset and worried for her.[6] Hermione seemed to regard her head of house as a role model, while Professor McGonagall, in spite of her sternness, was obviously quite fond of Hermione and expected great things of her.

Later, after McGonagall became headmistress of Hogwarts and Hermione became a member of the Ministry of Magic, McGonagall granted her permission to use notes left to the Hogwarts Archives, written by Albus Dumbledore, in her re-translation of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, demonstrating McGonagall's trust in her former pupil.

Viktor Krum[edit | edit source]

Hermione: "How did she know Viktor asked me to visit him over the summer?... Madam Pomfrey gave us both blankets and then he sort of pulled me away from the judges so they wouldn't hear, and he said, if I wasn't doing anything over the summer, would I like to —"
Ron: "And what did you say?"
Hermione: "And he did say he'd never felt the same way about anyone else..."
— Hermione about Viktor Krum's invitation to spend the summer with him.[src]


Viktor Krum, a renowned professional Quidditch player and student of Durmstrang, came to Hogwarts in 1994 for the Triwizard Tournament, in which he was a Champion. He took to following Hermione into the library, watching her and trying to "pluck up the courage" to speak to her. Eventually, he asked her to be his date to the Yule Ball, and Hermione accepted. Their arrival together caused something of a stir, given Viktor's fame and Hermione's exceptional, and rather unexpected, beauty.

Hermione was Viktor's 'hostage' during the Second Task of the Tournament. After he pulled her from the lake, Viktor told Hermione that he had never felt about someone the way he felt about her, and invited her to visit him in Bulgaria over the summer.[9] At some point, he and Hermione shared a kiss,[10] and though their relationship never became serious enough for her to visit him in Bulgaria, they kept in contact through letters over the years.[6] They met again at the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour in 1997, where Viktor complimented Hermione and was disappointed to learn that she was "sort of" with Ron Weasley.[11]

Room mates[edit | edit source]

Ron: "I love you, Hermione."
Hermione: "Don't let Lavender hear you saying that."
Ron: "I won't. Or maybe I will...then she'll ditch me..."
— Hermione and Ron Weasley[src]


Hermione's room mates at Hogwarts were fellow Gryffindors Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil as well as Fay Dunbar and another girl who swiftly became Fay's friend. While Lavender and Parvati swiftly became best friends, Hermione was not very close to either of them. Although the girls did not dislike each other, they had very different interests and sometimes clashed as a result. For example, Hermione scorned Divination, Lavender and Parvati's favourite subject, and accidentally upset Lavender with her clumsy attempt to comfort her over the death of her rabbit.[8] Hermione was also angry with Lavender for doubting Harry Potter's assertion that Lord Voldemort had returned in 1995 and snapped at her about it. She also came to Lavender's rescue during the Battle of Hogwarts, blasting Fenrir Greyback away from her.[11]

Hermione had a less tumultuous relationship with Parvati, although the two were not close. During Hermione's first year at Hogwarts, she hugged Parvati after Harry caught the Snitch at a Quidditch game. Parvati was noted to feel guilty after laughing at Ron's cruel teasing of Hermione in Transfiguration, and the two discussed Hermione's attendance of the Slug Club Christmas party with Cormac McLaggen. As Parvati looked “positively agog” at Hermione confiding in her,[10] it can be assumed that Hermione seldom discussed personal matters with her room mates.

Draco Malfoy[edit | edit source]

You foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach!

–Hermione is angry at Draco for happily watching the execution of Buckbeak., Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)

Draco Malfoy, of an old and wealthy pure-blood family with Death Eater ties, was raised to believe in the inferiority of Muggle-borns, and thus treated Hermione with disdain. This was probably exacerbated by Hermione's friendship with Harry and Ron, who shared a strong enmity with Draco from virtually the moment they met, and her beating Draco in school marks, for which his father berated him.[7] Draco frequently called Hermione the disparaging term "Mudblood," which usually set off the tempers of her friends — and the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team when he first said it to her face in 1992[7] — but Hermione tended to ignore Draco and urged Harry and Ron to do the same. Occasionally she would snap back at him, and in their third year, she even slapped him when he mocked Rubeus Hagrid for being upset over the impending execution of Buckbeak, for which Draco was largely responsible.[8]

In spite of his prejudice and dislike toward Hermione, Draco was reluctant to confirm her identity when he was asked to do so by his parents and aunt Bellatrix in 1998, avoiding even looking at her. As an adult sobered by his wartime experiences, Draco was civil, if not friendly, towards Hermione and her friends.[11]

Rubeus Hagrid[edit | edit source]

Then I'll go back again tomorrow. I'll plan his lessons for him if I have to. I don't care if she throws out Trelawney but she's not getting rid of Hagrid.

–Hermione Granger in 1996, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Rubeus Hagrid was the Gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures professor at Hogwarts, as well as a member of the Order of the Phoenix during the First and Second Wizarding Wars. Since Hagrid had met Harry Potter prior to the start of Hermione's first year at Hogwarts, Hermione grew closer to Hagrid as her friendship with Harry developed, eventually coming to visit him in his hut regularly with Harry and Ron Weasley. In their second year, Hagrid comforted Hermione when she was called a "a filthy little mudblood" by Draco Malfoy. Though she disapproved of Hagrid's penchant for collecting dangerous pets, she tended to more pro-actively support him in his efforts to care for them than Harry and Ron, as when Hagrid was attempting to appeal the execution of Buckbeak and raise his half-brother Grawp. In turn, it was Hagrid who encouraged Ron and Harry to re-think their treatment of Hermione when the three had a brief falling out over Hermione getting Harry's new Firebolt confiscated in their third year. When Dolores Umbridge threatened Hagrid's job during the 1995-1996 school year, Hermione advised him to teach only materials related to their O.W.Ls, so as not to give Umbridge any excuse to fire him, and worked tirelessly to keep him on track.

Hagrid remained close to the trio throughout their time at Hogwarts, and fought various battles in the course of the Second Wizarding War. In 2017, Harry's sons planned to meet Hagrid in his hut for tea soon after arriving at school, and it's very likely that Hermione and Ron's daughter would have been joining them.

Remus Lupin[edit | edit source]

Hermione: "Harry! How could you?"
Ron: "You shouldn't have said that stuff to Lupin."
— Hermione and Ron, after Harry yells at Remus for leaving his wife.[src]


Hermione was among the students who were very impressed by Remus Lupin's teaching in 1993, when he was appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Hermione deduced he was a werewolf during the school year, yet chose to keep it a secret in order to respect his privacy. Towards the end of the year, however, Lupin admitted that he was a werewolf to Harry, Ron and Hermione whilst in the Shrieking Shack. Following the events in this dilapidated building, Lupin became fully prepared to help Sirius Black kill Peter Pettigrew, the wizard who betrayed James and Lily Potter to Voldemort. However, thanks to Harry's intervention, they chose not to commit the murder, inadvertently allowing Pettigrew to escape. Lupin had referred to Hermione as the cleverest witch of her age he had ever seen before to this. Hermione, meanwhile, did not concern herself with Lupin's lycanthropy, she judged him only by his good nature and the content of his character.

Hermione met Lupin again in 1995 at the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. She and Lupin both fought against the Death Eaters during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in 1996, and survived (despite Hermione being side-swiped by Dolohov's curse). They also fought in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower and the Battle of the Seven Potters alongside, both emerging alive and relatively unscathed on the two occasions. Hermione was pleased to learn that Lupin had married Nymphadora Tonks before the Battle of the Seven Potters began, and became even more joyful at the news of Lupin's son, Ted Lupin, being born; joining in on the celebratory festivities at Shell Cottage. Hermione was devastated by Lupin's and Tonks' deaths in 1998, becoming friendly with their orphaned son, Teddy Lupin, later on in life.

Sirius Black[edit | edit source]

Hermione: "But Harry, you've just said it. Dumbledore wanted you to learn to shut these things out of your mind, if you'd done Occlumency properly you'd never seen this —"
Harry: "IF YOU THINK I'M JUST GOING TO ACT LIKE I HAVEN'T SEEN —"
Hermione: "Sirius told you there was nothing more important than you learning to close your mind"
Harry: "WELL, I EXPECT HE'D SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT IF HE KNEW WHAT I'D JUST —"
Harry Potter and Hermione on Sirius Black being tortured[src]


Hermione first learned about Sirius Black in 1993, when he escaped Azkaban. The wizarding world at large knew of him as the wizard who murdered twelve Muggles and a wizard (Peter Pettigrew) with a single curse. Very few knew of his affiliation with the Potters and those who did also believed that Sirius had betrayed James and Lily Potter to Voldemort by revealing their location at Godric's Hollow. During the events at Hogwarts in 1993, Hermione along with Harry, Ron and Lupin discovered that, contrary to their previous beliefs, Sirius Black had never committed the murders he had been incarcerated for and nor had he betrayed his closest friends. The trio managed to save Sirius and Lupin from being subjected to the Dementor's Kiss at the hands of Severus Snape by firing three simultaneous Disarming Charms at him. Snape was blasted off his feet and knocked unconscious, allowing Harry, Ron and Hermione to continue their interrogation of Sirius who later revealed that Pettigrew had disguised himself in his rat Animagus form for twelve years in order to escape justice and the wrath of Voldemort's remaining Death Eaters. However, upon exiting the Whomping Willow's secret passageway together, Pettigrew shrewdly used Lupin's werewolf transformation as a distraction and escaped. Sirius was soon apprehended and locked in Filius Flitwick's office to await the Dementor's Kiss. Harry and Hermione would later use the latter's Time-Turner to rescue Sirius, who became deeply grateful to both of them.

In 1994, Hermione, Harry and Ron visited Sirius at the cave off Hogsmeade village he was hiding in, bringing him food. Here they discussed the many mysteries that had occurred during that year, the trio learning valuable pieces of information regarding the imprisonment of Barty Crouch Jr.. After the events of the Third Task, Sirius (while in his Animagus form) joined Hermione, Ron and Molly Weasley at Harry's bedside, each indicating their affections for the latter.

Hermione and Sirius would not meet again until the summer of 1995, at the Headquarters of the second Order of the Phoenix. Sirius was obliged to remain in 12 Grimmauld Place for his own safety (his innocence not yet recognised by the Ministry). Sirius was rather disappointed when Harry was allowed to return to Hogwarts, Hermione pointing out that he had probably been secretly wishing that Harry had been expelled from school so that they could both stay at Grimmauld Place and be "outcasts together". Hermione expressed an even deeper understanding of Sirius's emotions when she stated her opinion to Harry that Sirius was attempting to relive his happier school days through his godson. Harry ignored this and became slightly agitated at the suggestion that Sirius might be guilty of such a crude mentality. Sirius was eventually killed by Bellatrix Lestrange in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, much to the dismay of his friends and loved ones. Hermione was devastated by his death, and often tried to provide comfort to Harry, who had been even more deeply affected by the tragedy. At the end of the Second Wizarding War, Hermione became godmother to Harry's eldest son, James Sirius, whose first and middle name was derived from James Potter I and Sirius Black respectively.

Severus Snape[edit | edit source]

Tell me, are you incapable of restraining yourself, or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?

–Snape to Hermione after she speaks out of turn, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)

Severus Snape was the Potions Master during most of Hermione's time at Hogwarts. He was also the Head of Slytherin House, and tended to openly show preferential treatment for the students of his own house, while being quick to criticise and deduct points from Gryffindor students. He was particularly unpleasant towards the trio, and regularly punished and verbally assaulted Harry and Ron for their poor to mediocre performances in his class. He could not do the same to Hermione, as she was the best student in the year and instead mocked her for things like being an "insufferable know-it-all," once even snidely insulting the size of Hermione's teeth[9]. Despite his pre-existing dislike for Gryffindor[11], Snape's treatment of Hermione likely had more to do with her close friendship with Harry. Despite this, Hermione was still seen to defend Snape on occasion when Harry and Ron blamed him for evil deeds which occured in Hogwarts, like setting the troll in the dungeon and trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone in Harry's first year. After Dumbledore's Death, she like many, believed that Snape was a coward who killed a man who trusted him more than anyone. It is unknown exactly how she reacted to learning of Snape's true motives and allegiance, but given her personality, it is highly likely that she came to both forgive her former Professor's cruelty, and even admire him for his bravery.

Albus Dumbledore[edit | edit source]

Second — to Miss Hermione Granger... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points!

–Dumbledore awarding Hermione last-minute points at the feast at the end of her first year, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

As with most aspects of the Wizarding world, Hermione read about Albus Dumbledore shortly after learning that she was a witch. She first met the Hogwarts headmaster during her her first year at the school, in 1991, and quickly came to respect Dumbledore's immense power and seemingly infinite wisdom. Although Dumbledore was not as close with her as he was with Harry Potter, he showed great insight into her character very early on. She was one of only three students Dumbledore bequeathed a personal item, as he believed her to be, along with Ron Weasley, trustworthy of accompanying Harry on his mission to destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes. He respected her intellect, perspicacity, and level-headedness, admitting to Harry that he had counted on Hermione to keep things in perspective when the trio finally discovered the existence of the Deathly Hallows. Hermione was devastated when Dumbledore was killed, and visited his portrait with Harry and Ron after the Battle of Hogwarts to determine the fate of the Hallows.

Crookshanks[edit | edit source]

Ron: "Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!"
Hermione: "He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?... Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him."
Ron: "I wonder why."
— Hermione and Ron when she bought Crookshanks[src]


Crookshanks was Hermione's large, bandy-legged, half-Kneazle, ginger-coloured pet cat since she bought him from the Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley, in 1993. She seemed to think he was gorgeous, although no one else had wanted to buy him when he was still being sold at the Menagerie, and believed he was very clever; the latter proved to be quite true during the 1993-1994 school year, when Crookshanks recognisHermione had left him at the Burrow before the wedding of Bill and Fleur, most likely has been left in care of Mrs Weasley or Ginny but it is possible that they were reunited after the war.

Cormac McLaggen[edit | edit source]

Harry: "What's happened to you?"
Hermione: "Oh, I've just escaped — I mean, I've just left Cormac. Under the mistletoe... Cormac hasn't asked me one single question about myself, no, I've just been treated to ‘A Hundred Great Saves Made by Cormac McLaggen' non-stop ever since — oh no, here he comes!"
— Hermione avoiding her date[src]


Cormac McLaggen was a Gryffindor student one year above Hermione. The two became acquainted in 1996 through the Slug Club, of which they were both members, though Hermione did not think highly of McLaggen. When she overheard him insulting Ron and Ginny during Quidditch try-outs, Hermione struck him with the Confundus Charm, undermining his abilities as a Keeper. Later in the year, when Hermione was furious with Ron for dating Lavender Brown, she decided to attend Professor Slughorn's Christmas party with McLaggen because she knew Ron despised him. McLaggen was apparently interested in Hermione, as he escorted her to the party and was very forward with her romantically while there. This, as well as his tendency to boast about himself, put Hermione off, and she soon abandoned him for the company of Harry and Luna before leaving the party altogether to avoid him. [10]

Pansy Parkinson[edit | edit source]

Stunningly pretty? Her? What was she judging against — a chipmunk?

–Pansy about Hermione when her looks are complimented in an article, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Pansy was more than Hermione's polar opposite: where Hermione was compassionate (i.e. SPEW), independent, and incredibly helpful to nearly anyone who needed it, Pansy was petty, mocked just about every non-Slytherin student she encountered (as well as Hagrid), and was little more than one of Draco Malfoy's more sycophantic lackeys, but at the end of the day, they both loved each other madly. They weren't besties, they were lovers. Pansy had a tendency to taunt and snipe at Hermione, Harry, and Ron at any given opportunity, though Hermione rarely seemed more than slightly irritated by her comments; the major exception to that most likely would have been Pansy's attempt to surrender Harry to Lord Voldemort shortly prior to the start of the Battle of Hogwarts.

Rita Skeeter[edit | edit source]

I hate that Skeeter woman! I'll get her back for this if it's the last thing I do!

– Hermione vows retribution against Rita Skeeter., Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

While covering the Triwizard Tournament in Hermione's fourth year, Daily Prophet journalist Rita Skeeter wrote a number of exaggerated and slanderous stories about Harry Potter and his friends, including one that outed Rubeus Hagrid as a half-giant. Harry and Hermione angrily confronted Rita about this. After Hermione insulted her, Rita published another article that portrayed Hermione as manipulative and ambitious, claiming that she was toying with the emotions of both Harry Potter and Viktor Krum. This resulted in Hermione receiving several letters of hate mail, including a few Howlers and at least one envelope filled with bubotuber pus.

Hermione became obsessed with getting back at Rita and uncovering how she was getting all of her information. Finally, near the end of the school year Hermione realised that Rita Skeeter was an unregistered Animagus. She caught Rita in her beetle form attempting to eavesdrop on Harry in the Hospital wing after the Third Task. Hermione sealed her inside a small bottle. Hermione blackmailed Rita into giving up writing for one year, otherwise her unregistered status would be revealed. As the penalties are apparently quite severe, Rita had no choice but to comply.

When the Ministry of Magic began using the Daily Prophet in its smear campaign against Harry, Hermione was again able to blackmail Rita, this time into writing an article for The Quibbler that would allow Harry to tell his side of the story. After her one year punishment was over, Rita went back to writing with as much enthusiasm and as little scruples as she had before, although it's unknown if she ever crossed Hermione again.

Dolores Umbridge[edit | edit source]

That foul, evil old gargoyle! We're not learn how to defend ourselves, we're not learning how to pass our O.W.L.s... she's taking over the entire school!

–Hermione's outrage on Umbridge's take-over of Hogwarts, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Dolores Umbridge was appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts professor by the Ministry of Magic, in 1995. She was a sadistic woman who enjoyed punishing and torturing students using the Blood Quill, most notably when she forced Harry Potter to carve "I must not tell lies" into the back of his own hand. Umbridge was as obsessed with blood-status as the Death Eaters, and had a particular hatred of what she called "half-breeds." Hermione, like most of the students and staff at Hogwarts, hated Umbridge. Hermione was one of the first to pick up on the true motives behind Umbridge's appointment at the magical school. In turn, Umbridge was not too fond of Hermione, who was not only Muggle-born, but was also probably far too perceptive for her liking, as well as being outspokenly opposed to a purely theoretical defensive magical education. When Umbridge planned to use Veritaserum and then the Cruciatus Curse on Harry, Hermione was the one who came up with the lie that led to them venturing into the Forbidden Forest and Umbridge eventually being dragged away by a herd of offended centaurs.

Hermione next met Umbridge a second time at the Ministry of Magic in 1997, when Hermione was disguised as Mafalda Hopkirk through the usage of Polyjuice Potion. Umbridge was, at the time, interrogating "Mudblood" witches and wizards, prior to sending them to Azkaban. Harry stunned Umbridge and retrieved Salazar Slytherin's Locket, one of Voldemort's hocruxes which Umbridge had taken from Mundungus Fletcher and was attempting to pass off as a family heirloom and proof of her relation to the Selwyn family. Hermione replaced the locket by duplicating it with the Geminio spell so Umbridge would not know that it had been taken from her. The trio proceeded to free all the Muggle-Borns awaiting interrogation.

Lord Voldemort[edit | edit source]

Harry, he has overpowered the Ministry, the newspapers, and half the wizarding community! Don't let him enter your mind, too!

–Hermione Granger, on Voldemort, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Hermione first learned about Lord Voldemort, the most dangerous Dark Wizard of all time, after reading about him sometime before she began attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry . During her first year, she and Ron Weasley helped Harry Potter reach the Philosopher's Stone and protect it from Voldemort. A year later, she was petrified for being Muggle-born by Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk, which was controlled by Tom Riddle's memory. In 1995, she learned that the Dark Lord had returned and supported Harry against the Ministry's denial and smear campaign. She also fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries to prevent Voldemort from obtaining a vital prophecy, but was severely injured and rendered unconscious. In 1997, she left Hogwarts to help Harry and Ron find and destroy Voldemort's horcruxes. She personally destroyed Helga Hufflepuff's Cup using a basilisk's fang. She later witnessed Harry's defeat of Voldemort in the Battle of Hogwarts.

However, Hermione made very little direct contact with Voldemort, truly seeing him for the first time during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Possibly the closest connection Hermione and Voldemort shared was through the former wearing Salazar Slytherin's Locket whilst travelling with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley in 1997. The Horcrux locket was worn by all three for regular, though limited, periods of time, inadvertently allowing the portion of soul within to access the wearer's thoughts, emotions and deepest fears. The Horcrux had learned enough about Hermione to use hers and Harry's likenesses in emotionally torturing Ron, reflecting Ron's deepest fears of Hermione preferring Harry to him. Because the Horcrux had become so disconnected from the once whole soul of Tom Riddle, the physically bodied Voldemort was not aware of any of these events, nor of the information the Horcrux had gained dangling around the necks of Harry and his closest friends. Although they had very little direct contact, Hermione and Voldemort are sometimes similar: both are "model students" (in Voldemort's case, it was largely an act, while Hermione genuinely tried to be a model student) who achieved outstanding grades in NEWTS. Both were Prefects, although Voldemort was Head Boy while Hermione skipped school during what would have been her seventh year due to political persecution, preventing her from being Head Girl that year (It is possible that Hermione became Head Girl when she went back to finish her seventh year after Voldemort's final destruction). They both came from Muggle backgrounds, but Voldemort was raised in an orphanage while Hermione was brought up in a loving Muggle family.

Bellatrix Lestrange[edit | edit source]

You're lying, filthy mud-blood, and I know it! You have been inside my vault in Gringotts! Tell the truth, tell the truth! What else did you take? What else have you got? Tell me the truth or, I swear, I shall run you through with this knife! What else did you take, what else? ANSWER ME! CRUCIO!

–Bellatrix interrogating Hermione, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Bellatrix Lestrange was one of Voldemort's most fanatically loyal followers; Hermione initially knew her as one of the Death Eaters involved in torturing and permanently incapacitating Frank and Alice Longbottom, though she also witnessed Bellatrix murder Sirius Black at the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, in 1996.

During the Skirmish at Malfoy Manor, Bellatrix chose to torture Hermione, who, as a Muggle-born, Bellatrix felt was most dispensable (though, as a "blood traitor," Ron Weasley was a close second), in order to discover where and how the trio had managed to acquire Godric Gryffindor's Sword. During the interrogation, Bellatrix used her knife to carve the word "mudblood" on Hermione's arm. Hermione later used one of Bellatrix's hairs obtained in the skirmish to make Polyjuice Potion and break into the Lestrange Vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Hermione, Ginny, and Luna duelled against Bellatrix during the final battle, but were made to stand aside by Molly Weasley, who eventually killed Bellatrix herself.

Dumbledore's Army[edit | edit source]

I also think we should have a name... It would promote a feeling of team spirit and unity, don't you think?

–Hermione on naming the Army, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Dumbledore's Army was essentially Hermione's brainchild, though she co-founded it with Ron and Harry during the 1995–1996 school year. After Dolores Umbridge informed her Defence Against the Dark Arts students that they would not be using any magic, claiming a theoretical education would suffice, a furious Hermione (fearful of being ill-equipped to deal with the reborn Lord Voldemort and the upcoming O.W.L.s) conceived of the organisation as a means of allowing any student interested in actually practising defensive magic to do so. Though the secret classes were taught by Harry, Hermione arranged the initial meeting at the Hog's Head, created the DA's method of covert communication, and jinxed their member list to reveal any betrayal.

All of the DA members grew closer over the course of the year (with the exceptions of Marietta Edgecombe, who betrayed the DA to Umbridge, and later Zacharias Smith, who deserted them), as evidenced by their reunion in 1997, and their enthusiasm in supporting Harry and mobilising against the invading Death Eaters during the Battle of Hogwarts. Moreover, the DA truly cemented Hermione's friendships with Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom, who were the only members, aside from Ginny Weasley, to fight alongside Hermione, Harry, and Ron at the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and the Battle of the Astronomy Tower.

Hermione's relationship with Cho Chang was two-sided; while Hermione gave Harry advice on how to build a successful relationship with Cho, Cho grew increasingly jealous of Harry's close friendship with Hermione, believing that the two of them were romantically involved. Because of this, Cho went into a dramatic and tear-filled departure from her date with Harry when he mentioned that he promised to meet with Hermione, who would later comment sadly on how Harry went the wrong way on telling Cho about the appointed meeting. When Cho attempted to insult Hermione for jinxing her friend Marietta Edgecombe for betraying DA, Harry defended her and in turn insulted Marietta. However, when Hermione returned to Hogwarts during the last stand against Voldemort, any negative feelings for each other seemed to have evaporated, as Cho welcomed the trio.

Order of the Phoenix[edit | edit source]

Harry: "So what is this place?"
Ron: "Headquarters."
Hermione: "Of the Order of the Phoenix. It's a secret society. Dumbledore formed it back when they first fought You-Know-Who."
— Hermione explaining to Harry the Order[src]


Hermione first heard about the Order of the Phoenix in 1995, when she, Harry and Ron spent several weeks at the Order's headquarters. Through her time at Grimmauld Place, Hermione got to know Alastor Moody, the most famous Auror of modern times, known for rounding up several Death Eaters after the First Wizarding War and for his growing paranoia. He and Hermione fought together in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, and later, in the Battle of the Seven Potters, where Moody was killed by Voldemort's own hand. Hermione, like the rest of the Order, was shocked and horrified by the death of such a skilled Auror, "the consummate survivor,"[11] and disgusted by Mundungus Fletcher's desertion. Hermione, who had known Fletcher as a petty criminal who had stolen a number the Black family heirlooms shortly after Sirius Black's death, aside from being a member of the Order, took part in interrogating Fletcher, when she, Harry and Ron realised Salazar Slytherin's Locket had been among the items stolen from Grimmauld Place.

Hermione had great respect for Kingsley Shacklebolt, a skilled Auror and eventual Minister for Magic, who was known as "Royal" on Potterwatch, and who saved countless lives (including Hermione, Ron and Harry's) when he sent his Patronus to warn the attendees of Bill and Fleur's wedding that the Ministry had fallen, and with it, the protections surrounding The Burrow. Another member of the Order responsible for saving the trio was Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus' younger brother. Though Hermione, Harry and Ron had known him for some time as the owner of the Hog's Head Pub, they finally met him in 1998, just before the Battle of Hogwarts, when he just barely managed to get them out a trap set by Death Eaters. Prior to that, he sent Dobby to rescue them, along with Dean Thomas, Luna Lovegood, Garrick Ollivander and Griphook the Goblin, from the Malfoy Manor; as it turned out, Aberforth had acquired Sirius Black's Two-way mirror from Mundungus Fletcher, and been keeping an eye out for Harry.

Nymphadora Tonks, a funny, Metamorphmagus witch, who had become a good friend of Hermione's, died along with her husband and fellow member of the Order, Remus Lupin, during the Battle of Hogwarts. As their son, Ted Lupin, was Harry's godson and was also dating Hermione's niece, Victoire by 2017, it's likely Hermione remained quite close to him.[1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Rowling took Hermione's name from William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale,[26] saying that she wanted it to be unusual, since if fewer girls shared her name, fewer girls would get teased for it.[26]The name "Hermione" is derived from "Hermes", who was the messenger of the Greek gods, as well as the god of wit, eloquence and quick thinking.

Hermione in Harry Potter is stated to be not at all similar to her namesake in The Winter's Tale, who was the wife of Leontes, king of Sicilia (Sicily), who was a friend of Polixines, the king of Bohemia. At the beginning of the play, Polixines has been visiting Leontes and Hermione for nine months, and Hermione's pregnancy is showing. Because of this, and because of the attention paid to her by Polixines, Leontes erroneously concludes that his wife has been unfaithful to him (mirroring Ron's suspicions against Harry and Hermione in Deathly Hallows). Eventually, however, he realises otherwise, and in the end he, Hermione and their daughter are happily reunited. The most salient line, perhaps, is that of her husband upon her "resurrection", "If this be magic, let it be an art Lawful as eating." (WT V iii).

Hermione is also the name of a minor character in the novel, The Green Mile. Some fans believe that Rowling took the name from the novel since in the "Praise for the Order of The Phoenix," she states, "I scared Stephen King!"

Hermione is also the name of a figure from Greek mythology, in which she was a princess of Sparta and daughter of Helen of Troy who was pursued by both Orestes and Neoptolemus, perhaps alluding to the jealousy and rivalry between Ron and Viktor Krum over Hermione. It is also the name of the heroine of Jean-Baptiste Lully's play Cadmus et Hermione, based on the myth of the goddess of harmony, Harmonia, who married the founder of Thebes. The name Hermione is derived from the Greek god Hermes, who was a messenger to the gods, the cleverest, most cunning and smartest of them and also the patron of various arts and keen inventor.

Hermione was also the name of a 32 gun British frigate launched in 1782. Its full name was the HMS Frigate. It served during the time of the French Revolution in the West Indies. The ship's name did not stick however, and by the time it was decommissioned in 1805, it had been renamed twice: in 1799 as the Retaliation, and again in 1802 as the Retribution.[27] A British Dido-class light cruiser launched in 1939 was also named the HMS Hermione.

For all that, however, the name was chosen because Rowling thought it unusual enough that the few people who shared the name would endure teasing over it. In order to ensure correct pronunciation among fans, a scene was created between Hermione and Viktor Krum in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in which they discuss the correct pronunciation; the closest Krum got was "Herm-own-ninny."

In the will of Albus Dumbledore, Hermione's middle name was listed as "Jean;" however, in previous interviews, Rowling had stated that her middle name was "Jane." Rowling cleared this up in a later interview stating that she had decided that she did not want Hermione to share a middle name with Professor Umbridge, and thus changed it to Jean, which is a female variant of the name John, meaning "God is gracious."[28]

Granger is another word for farmer; specifically, it was the title of a farm bailiff, who oversaw the collection of rent and taxes from the barns of a feudal lord. It is a surname of English and French origin, derived from the Anglo-Norman grainger and the French grangier, both of which come from Latin granica, meaning "granary." It recalls Hermione's Muggle roots. Also, "Granger" is a term for a member of the Grange Movement of the United States, which involved agricultural activism in the nineteenth century, possibly alluding to Hermione Granger's activism on behalf of house-elves. Her original last name was "Puckle," but Rowling later decided this didn't suit her character.

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

  • However, in his on-screen commentary for the Blu-Ray release of Philosopher's Stone, reveals that the final scene of the film does show Hermione's large front teeth. According to Columbus, the scene - which was actually the first to be shot - was filmed with Emma Watson wearing fake teeth to simulate the look of Hermione, but that after filming the sequence it was decided to continue using them would have been impractical. Via edits, the appearance of Hermione's teeth is minimised, but they are still visible when she speaks in the scene.
  • Also, Hermione's hair is only as bushy as it is implied to be in the books in the first two films. Instead, her hair is shown as rather curly or wavy, although it does briefly take on a bushy appearance once again for comedic effect during the potion-making contest sequence of the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
  • Hermione's Patronus, an otter, is Rowling's favourite animal. The otter is in the family Mustelidae, the same as the weasel, which is the origin of the surname Weasley. In addition, the Weasleys live in Ottery St. Catchpole, possibly foreshadowing either Hermione's marriage into the family or Hermione's feelings for Ron as he is a Weasley.
  • In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hermione tells Rufus Scrimgeour that she is not planning to embark on a career in Magical Law. Ironically, that's where she ends up after leaving Hogwarts, following a stint in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
  • In early drafts, Hermione was supposed to have a Muggle sister.[29]
  • In her third year when she and Ron went to Hogsmeade, while looking at the Shrieking Shack from a fair distance, she asked Ron if he "wanted to move closer" then added hastily "to the shrieking shack" after Ron's bewildered look. It is possible that in the beginning she might have meant if Ron wanted to move closer to her but got shy because of his look so she added "to the shrieking shack". If this is true, this can be yet another sign of her feelings toward Ron.
  • In several occasions - during their frequent bickering - Hermione is seen calling Ron by his full name to express her annoyance. Some examples include her squabble with Ron about Scabbers ("Ronald has lost his rat"), and when they argue about Ron's sister Ginny dating Dean Thomas ("Honestly Ronald, they're just holding hands - and snogging").
  • Hermione admitted to successfully trying out "a few simple spells" just before her first year at Hogwarts,[5] but, in spite of underage magic being banned, she apparently never received a warning from the Improper Use of Magic Office for it. This may be because, since she had not yet attended Hogwarts as an official student, the Ministry overlooked it just as they overlooked when young Tom Riddle used magic before attending Hogwarts to move objects, help him climb down a steep cliff, etc.; and also as they overlooked when young Harry made the glass of the boa constrictor cage disappear, made his own hair grow back to normal long length after Aunt Petunia cut it, etc. Severus Snape indicated as much to Lily Evans when they were both children about Lily's own use of magic before she was a student.
  • Screenwriter of the film version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Steve Kloves has said that Hermione is his favourite character, commenting: "There's something about her fierce intellect coupled with a complete lack of understanding of how she affects people sometimes that I just find charming and irresistible to write."[30]
  • In the film adaptation of Chamber of Secrets, Hermione is shown to be aware of what the term "Mudblood" means when Draco Malfoy uses the slur against her, whereas in the novel, she has never heard the word before and Ron explains its meaning to her and Harry.
  • In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Professor Binns calls Hermione "Miss Grant." It is also made known that Binns calls everyone different names, with Binns also calling Harry Potter "Mr Perkins."
  • Hermione's Boggart in her third year was Professor McGonagall telling her that she had "failed everything," which Rowling later commented showed that "underneath Hermione's snottiness there is a lot of insecurity and a great fear of failure."[17]
  • In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hermione is shown to be wearing a pink set of dress robes rather than periwinkle blue, as in the novel.
  • In the film version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Hermione tells Slughorn and the Slug Club about her parents being dentists, but no one, except Harry, knew what dentists were.
  • Hermione shares a last name with potioneer Hector Dagworth-Granger, though she informed Horace Slughorn that she does not think they are related, since she is Muggle-born.[10] However, the theory that Muggle-borns have some sort of wizarding ancestry suggests Slughorn might be right about Hermione and Hector being related because every muggle-born must have had a Squib ancestor.
  • In the film versions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Hermione appears to be wearing red dress robes to Bill and Fleur's wedding instead of lilac in the novel.
  • In August 1997, Hermione was forced to separate from her cat, Crookshanks, during the Death Eaters' attack on the Burrow. It is never mentioned if they ever reunited after the Second War ended.
  • In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry mentions that the only spell Hermione ever had trouble with was the Patronus Charm, although she was among the first of the D.A. to master the spell and casts it successfully multiple times throughout the series. This may have something to do with the emotional nature of the spell; Harry, due to his inability to cut off his emotions, is particularly adept at this spell, while the logical Hermione has issues with it. It may also have something to do with the caster's self confidence as J.K. Rowling has stated that Hermione is afraid of failure and Harry's first powerful uses of the spell, at a Quidditch match and when he saved Sirius, seemed more motivated by his confidence rather then a positive memory.
  • In Harry, A History, Rowling told Melissa Anelli that Steve Kloves had suspected something might happen between Hermione and Harry while reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: "He felt a certain pull between them at that point. And I think he's right. There are moments when [Harry and Hermione] touch, which are charged moments. One when she touches his hair as he sits on the hilltop reading about Dumbledore and Grindelwald, and [two] the moment when they walk out of the graveyard with their arms around each other. Now the fact is that Hermione shares moments with Harry that Ron will never be able to participate in. He walked out. She shared something very intense with Harry. So I think it could have gone that way."[25]
  • When asked, Rowling said that if Hermione looked into the Mirror of Erised in the summer of 1997, she would have seen herself, Harry, and Ron "alive and unscathed" and Voldemort defeated, and might also "see herself closely entwined with a special person."[31]
  • Initially, J.K. Rowling had stated that Hermione's middle name was "Jane." However, Rowling later changed it to "Jean" after deciding that she did not want Hermione to share a middle name with Dolores Umbridge.[28]
  • Hermione's wand wood of vine corresponds to her birthday in the Celtic calendar, which Rowling did intentionally as a connection between Hermione's wand, Harry's wand, and Ron's wand.[32] In the Celtic calendar, the vine was a symbol of passionate emotions in both extremes—happiness and wrath — and was connected to fulfilling goals and finding balance.[33]
  • In the Harry Potter books, Hermione has brown hair, but in the films she has more of a light brown.
  • Hermione's surname was 'Puckle', in early drafts of Harry Potter. It was later changed to Granger.
  • In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Hermione is shown leaving her parents house, however this is only ever mentioned in the books.
  • In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Video Game for PC, Peeves refers to Hermione as "Grunge." He always uses the last names for his insulting versions in the games, producing: Potter=Potty, Weasley=Weasel, Granger=Grunge.
  • Emma Watson says that her favourite scene during the film series is the Yule Ball sequence in the fourth film, just like Rupert Grint.
  • In the books, several times Ron and Hermione repeat phrases said by one another; for example, when Hermione, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, wanted to produce fire in order to destroy the Devil's Snare, Ron tells her: "Are you a witch or not?" meaning that they could make fire by their wands. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Ron expressed regret for not having Crookshanks there to stop the Whomping Willow and Hermione told him, "Are you a wizard or not?" leading Ron to levitate a stick into the tree's weak spot. Furthermore, during the Battle of the Seven Potters, Tonks said Ron was amazing, having defeated many Death Eaters. When Hermione looked surprised, Ron said:"Always that tone of surprise." Hermione says the same thing when Ron told her she was very beautiful, during Bill and Fleur's wedding.
  • Hermione cries in the first, second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth films:
    • First film: After Ron insulted her by saying she has no friends because she's a nightmare and she hides in the girls' bathroom.
    • Second film: When she, her friends and the other students cheer for Hagrid after he returns to Hogwarts from Azkaban at the end of the film.
    • Third film: When she, Harry and Ron saw Buckbeak's apparent execution.
    • Fourth film: After Ron ruined her night at the Yule Ball
    • Sixth film: When Ron started having a relationship with Lavender Brown and when Dumbledore died.
    • Seventh film: When Ron abandoned her and Harry during the Horcrux hunt and after Bellatrix has interrogated her and carved the word 'Mudblood' on her arm with her knife.
    • Eighth film: When she is worried about Harry going into the Forbidden Forest to have Voldemort kill him.

Hermione was also seen trying not to cry in the second film after Draco Malfoy called her a filthy little Mudblood since she was aware of the term, which contradicts the events of the novel in which she doesn't know what the word 'Mudblood' means until Ron explains it to her and Harry. This means that the only film adaptation that Hermione doesn't cry in is the fifth film.

  • In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Hermione is shown to be able to play the piano, which she attempts to teach Ron to do while at Grimmauld Place.
  • In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Bellatrix Lestrange uses her knife to carve the word "Mudblood" into Hermione's arm during her interrogation. This was not inscribed in the book, but was an idea that Emma Watson came up with, along with Helena Bonham Carter.
  • In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Hermione has the ability to control Crookshanks and translate ancient runes since first year, rather than third year.
  • In the film version of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hermione snaps at Harry when he tells her to give a message to Ron, saying "I'm not an owl." An owl is used for carrying messages, but her name, Hermione, drives from Hermes, the Greek messenger of the gods.
  • Hermione is a playable character in the video game adaptations of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (only in duel mode), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. [34]
  • The subplot of Hermione standing up for House-Elves rights was left out of the film adaptions entirely.
  • Singer Katy B auditioned to play Hermione, but was dismissed when the casting director discovered that she had not read the books[35]. Charlotte Church also auditioned, but was too old for the part.[36]
  • A variant of Hermione is available in the "Downloadable Character Pack" DLC for LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7. The variant is called "Hermione (Pink Dress)" because it portrays Hermione wearing the pink dress she wore to the Yule Ball in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
  • In February 2014, J.K. Rowling was quoted as saying that Harry could have been a better love interest for Hermione but that "for reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with (J.K.) clinging to the plot as (she) first imagined it, Hermione [ended up] with Ron."[37] Rowling also stated that Ron and Hermione could possibly be alright with marriage counselling. The article also mentioned that Emma Watson, who portrays Hermione in the films, agreed with Rowling, saying: "I think there are fans out there who know that too and who wonder whether Ron would have really been able to make her happy."

Author's comments[edit | edit source]

J. K. Rowling has said that she loosely based Hermione at the age of eleven on herself at the same age, though an exaggerated version:

"...none of the characters in the books are directly taken from life. Real people did inspire a few of them, but of course once they are on the page they become something completely different. But, yeah, Hermione is a caricature of what I was when I was eleven — a real exaggeration, I wasn't that clever — Hermione is a borderline genius at points — and I hope I wasn't that annoying...sometimes she is an incredible know-it-all."[18]

Rowling has gone on to say that Hermione, Harry and Ron are all "a bit like different parts of my personality" as well as her favourite characters, along with Rubeus Hagrid, Albus Dumbledore, Fred and George Weasley, and Luna Lovegood,[29] and that Hermione and Dumbledore were the most useful characters for exposition.[30] She also identified Hermione as "the most brilliant" of her group of friends and confirmed that "Harry needs her badly."[38] Rowling has also said that she considers Hermione to be "a very strong female character," as well as "the brightest character."[39]

Rowling has also stated that, from a feminist point of view, she is very proud of Hermione. In her words, Hermione does not "play the game" in refusing to sacrifice parts of herself as she grows from a girl to a woman. Hermione never makes Ron "feel better" by pretending to be less than she is; she always preserves who she is and waits for Ron to catch up. In general, Rowling regards her as a heroine, but isn't sexy nor entirely sexless, but a "real girl."

Rowling admitted in an interview conducted by Emma Watson for the magazine Wonderland in February of 2014 that, with hindsight, she had second thoughts on the suitability of Ron as a partner for Hermione and believes that in some ways, Harry might have made a better romantic partner for her:

"I wrote the Hermione-Ron relationship as a form of wish fulfilment. That's how it was conceived, really. For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione [ended up] with Ron."

She went on to say that she found the attraction itself plausible, but that the combative side of it might cause problems in an adult relationship as there was too much fundamental incompatibility. However, according to Rowling, they could "probably be alright" with a bit of marriage counselling, and Ron needed to work on his self-esteem issues while Hermione needed to learn to be less critical. She concluded with the statement that just like herself, the uptight Hermione had a real weakness for a funny man.[40]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Notes and references[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Hermione's date of birth falls after the Hogwarts term begins on 1 September. If she had been born in 1981 like Ginny and Luna , she would be too young to begin attending school in 1992; she would be ten, a couple of weeks away from turning eleven. So she must have been born in 1980; in 1991, she would be eleven, a couple of weeks away from turning twelve.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter Limited Edition - A Guide to the Graphic Arts Department: Posters, Prints, and Publications from the Harry Potter Films
  3. 3.0 3.1 Pottermore - "DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY REUNITES AT QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP" (Daily Prophet, 08 July 2014)
  4. 4 March 2004 World Book Day Chat
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  9. 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  10. 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  11. 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 11.19 11.20 11.21 11.22 11.23 11.24 11.25 11.26 11.27 11.28 11.29 11.30 11.31 11.32 11.33 11.34 11.35 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  12. PotterCast 130
  13. Video clip of J.K. Rowling from her new documentary: J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life
  14. J.K. Rowling's U.S. Book Tour
  15. The Tales of Beedle the Bard (real)
  16. 19 November 2007 Interview with J.K. Rowling for the Release of the Dutch Edition of Deathly Hallows
  17. 17.0 17.1 Extra Stuff: Hermione Granger on J.K. Rowling's Official Site
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 12 October 1999 WBUR Radio interview with J.K. Rowling
  19. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
  20. In Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Sr. placed a Memory Charm on Bertha Jorkins that damaged her memory severely. Voldemort later broke the charm on her through torture.
  21. Dolohov and Rowle saw Ron Weasley when they attacked the trio on Tottenham Court Road yet Ron's accompaniment of Harry and Hermione was not known to the Death Eaters until he was brought to Malfoy Manor in 1998, which shows that Dolohov and Rowle did not remember having seen him earlier.
  22. Chamber of Secrets, Ch. 13
  23. The film adaptation of Goblet of Fire expands on this by having Hermione and Harry being caught in a friendly embrace by Rita Skeeter who incorrectly interprets it as teen romance. In the film adaptation of Half-Blood Prince Harry asks Hermione to go to Slughorn's party as his date, but she declines, having already decided to take McLaggen to annoy Ron.
  24. Behind the scenes footage of the upcoming Deathly Hallows adaptation suggests the film may expand on this.
  25. 25.0 25.1 J. K. Rowling's comments in Harry, A History.
  26. 26.0 26.1 Transcript of National Press Club author's luncheon, NPR Radio, 20 October, 1999 Accio-quote.org Retrieved on 23 April 2007
  27. Miniature Woddenships
  28. 28.0 28.1 Behind the Name:Jean
  29. 29.0 29.1 J K Rowling at the Edinburgh Book Festival, Sunday, August 15, 2004
  30. 30.0 30.1 Chamber of Secrets DVD interview with Steve Kloves and J.K. Rowling, February 2003
  31. 1 August 2006 Radio City Music Hall Interview
  32. "Extra Stuff: Wands" at J.K. Rowling's Official Site
  33. About.com: Celtic Tree Months
  34. EAstore.ea.com
  35. http://www.nme.com/news/tabloid-hell/55802
  36. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_2985000/2985244.stm
  37. J.K. Rowling discusses Hermione's relationship and how she should have married Harry.
  38. 30 July 2000 Times Interview with J.K. Rowling
  39. January 2001 Interview with O Magazine
  40. February 2014 Interview with Wonderland
Top of page