Hermione Granger

Hermione Jean Weasley (née Granger)
Biographical information
Born	September 19, 1979
Blood status	Muggle-born
Title(s)	Prefect (formerly) S.P.E.W. leader (formerly) D.A. co-founder (formerly)
Physical information
Gender	Female
Hair colour	Brown
Eye colour	Brown
Family information
Family members	Mr. Granger (father) Mrs. Granger (mother) Ron Weasley (husband) Rose Weasley (daughter) Hugo Weasley (son) Arthur Weasley (father-in-law) Molly Weasley I (mother-in-law) Harry Potter (brother-in-law) Ginny Potter (sister-in-law) James Potter II (nephew/godson) Albus Potter (nephew) Lily Potter II (niece) Bill Weasley (brother-in-law) Charlie Weasley (brother-in-law) Percy Weasley (brother-in-law) Fred Weasley I (brother-in-law)† George Weasley (brother-in-law) Various other in-laws, nieces and nephews
Magical characteristics
Boggart	Failure
Wand	Vine, 10¾", dragon heartstring Walnut, 12¾", dragon heartstring
Patronus	Otter
Affiliation
Occupation	Department of Magical Law Enforcement

"Books! And cleverness! There are more important things — friendship and bravery."

— Hermione Granger

Hermione Jean Weasley (née Granger), born September 19, 1979, is the only child of Mr and Mrs. Granger. A Muggle-born witch, she learned on her eleventh birthday that she had been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She began attending the school on 1st September 1991, when she was nearly twelve, and was sorted into Gryffindor House.

An academically brilliant student, Hermione became close friends with fellow students Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Hermione became an advocate for the better treatment of House-elves, forming the association S.P.E.W.. In 1995, she was the driving force behind the creation of Dumbledore's Army, and fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in 1996, and in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower and the Battle over Little Whinging in 1997. Hermione accompanied Harry on his quest to retrieve and destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes, and later fought in the Battle of Hogwarts. Following the Second Wizarding War, she attained employment at the Ministry of Magic, furthering her cause for the better treatment of House-elves before gaining promotion to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She would go on to marry Ron, and they would have two children: Rose and Hugo Weasley.

Biography

Education

Terry Boot: "You can do a Protean Charm?... But that's...that's N.E.W.T. standard, that is."

Hermione: "Oh. Oh...well...yes, I suppose it is."

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 on her Sorting

Hermione enjoyed her years as a pupil at Hogwarts, and took assignments, classes and school rules very seriously. Her favorite subject was 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 admits that the Sorting Hat did consider putting her in Ravenclaw, but she proved her rightful place in Gryffindor with her steadfast bravery and loyalty to Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts, and her friends.

First Year

Hermione in her first year at Hogwarts.

"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 Granger upon first meeting Harry and Ron

Hermione was a few days away from turning twelve when she boarded the Hogwarts Express in 1991. She was the best in all her classes and was very eager to please the professors. Because of her eagerness and skill in class, she had difficulty making friends. She attached herself to Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, following them and trying her best to stop them from violating the rules. On one night she followed them as they were leaving Gryffindor Tower to duel Draco Malfoy. They were chased by Argus Filch into the third floor corridor -- forbidden to students -- where they came face-to-face with a three-headed dog. 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 hadn't noticed.

Hermione's typical hand-raising in class.

The friendship between the three was solidified when, on Halloween 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. Harry and Ron came to her rescue. When Professors Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape and Quirinus Quirrell arrived at the scene, Hermione covered for Harry and Ron, claiming she was fighting the troll and the boys had merely come to help her escape. From that point on, the three students were friends.

"I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed - or worse, expelled."

— Hermione to Harry and Ron

During the events surrounding the attempted theft of the Philosopher's Stone, it was Hermione who 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.

Second Year

"And they haven't invented a spell that our Hermione can't do."

— Rubeus Hagrid

File:Hermionegranger.gif

Hermione in her second year.

Prior to starting her second year, Hermione wrote several letters to Harry, all of which were intercepted by Dobby since the House-elf wanted Harry to believe that his friends had forgotten him so he would not want to go back to Hogwarts.

It was during her second school year that Hermione first encountered the prejudice and hatred surrounding her blood purity, when Draco Malfoy called her a "filthy little Mudblood." Hermione had never heard the highly offensive term before, but others present did and lashed out at Draco. Ron even went at him with his wand, 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 is a talented witch, regardless of what bigoted people say about her Muggle-born status.

Hermione surprised Harry and Ron when she admitted she was smitten by Gilderoy Lockhart, who became that year's Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. In fact, she goes as far as to doodle hearts on her D.A.D.A. assignments, despite the fact he is a self-obsessed fraud.

Hermione began spending all her free time in the Hogwarts Library after vandalism on the corridor walls indicated the Chamber of Secrets was set to be re-opened. Hermione shocked everyone when she actually interrupted Professor Cuthbert Binns during a History of Magic lecture and asked him for information about it; 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. 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. Hermione risked everything when she stole potion ingredients from Professor Snape's cupboards and began brewing the potion on the second floor girls' lavatory, where Moaning Myrtle haunts.

File:3748.jpg

Hermione brewing Polyjuice Potion.

Unfortunately, Hermione was unable to join Harry and Ron in the ruse with Polyjuice Potion because the Extract of The-Transfigured-Being-To-Be she obtained from Millicent Bulstrode was actually cat hair. Hermione grew fur and a tail, and was 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, realized that he was not the Heir of Slytherin and was not involved in the opening of the Chamber.

Just when she had been cured, Hermione suffered another accident. She had rushed to the library to research Basilisks, for she reasoned that must be the beast attacking students. 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 their 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. It was through this note that Harry and Ron were able to successfully put an end to Lord Voldemort's plans to resurrect his body through his Horcrux, an old school diary. Hermione was later cured with Mandrake Restorative Draught. She was also disappointed to learn that, as a special treat for the school, Professor Dumbledore cancelled the students' end of year exams.

All these events further prove Hermione Granger's bravery and unflagging commitment to Hogwarts.

Third Year

Hermione Granger and her pet Crookshanks.

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

— Hermione faces her Boggart

In the beginning of the 1993 school year, Hermione met and adopted a 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 rift between the two friends. There was further social strain for Hermione when Ron accused Crookshanks of eating Scabbers, who had gone missing. Hermione poured herself into defending Buckbeak, the hippogriff on trial for attacking Draco Malfoy during a Care of Magical Creatures class. She worked furiously to save Buckbeak, but ultimately failed, as Lucius Malfoy frightened the committee into deciding that the creature would be executed. Hermione was extremely upset by this news, crying in Ron's arms after they made up, and 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 an excellent Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. 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.

Hermione: "Please, sir, the werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf -"

Professor Snape: "That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all."

Ron: "You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?"

— Hermione and Ron in a DADA class

Hermione, Harry and Ron.

Hermione, Harry and Ron all witnessed what they thought was Buckbeak's execution, but before the could return to their dormitory, they were attacked by a black dog, which pulled Ron into a cavity beneath the Whomping Willow. Hermione and Harry hurried after them, only to find a tunnel that led to the Shrieking Shack where Sirius Black, whose Animagus form was the black dog, confronted them. They were joined by Professor Lupin, and Hermione told Harry and Ron of her belief that he was a werewolf, which he 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 hidden in his rat Animagus form as Scabbers.

Chaos ensued, ending when Hermione fainted in the presence of a Dementor, come to recapture Sirius. She awoke in the Hospital Wing after being rescued by a mysterious, unseen person. After realizing that Sirius' soul was to be destroyed by the Dementor's Kiss, Hermione used her Time-Turner to return herself and Harry to a time earlier in the evening. She used this opportunity to rescue not only Sirius, but Buckbeak as well.

As evidenced by her assertion that time-traveling is extremely treacherous, Hermione took great personal risk to save Sirius Black and Buckbeak.

Fourth Year

Hermione in her Yule Ball dress.

"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

Before her fourth year at Hogwarts, Hermione accompanied Harry, Ron and the other Weasleys to the Quidditch World Cup. After the game, the communal campsite was attacked by Death Eaters. The trio fled into the woods and witnessed the casting of Morsmordre.

Once at Hogwarts, Hermione began a crusade for the liberation of house-elves by beginning The Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare. This did not earn her any popularity, as most believe that house-elves enjoy their work; indeed, even the house-elves did not like her campaigning. Hermione 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, took everything Hermione had made, and cleaned the Tower by himself.

After the events surrounding Harry Potter'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 friends 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.

Hermione unknowingly attracted the interest of Durmstrang Triwizard Champion and Bulgaria 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.

Hermione accompanied Viktor Krum to the Yule Ball, much to the jealousy and fury of her fellow students. Hermione attended the Ball wearing robes of "floaty, periwinkle-blue material," and her hair in an "elegant knot at the back of her head." The attention to her appearance was unusual and she received positive remarks on it. Hermione commented she used Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, but that it was too much work to use it every day. Ron was overcome with jealousy of Krum, as he had wanted to attend the ball with Hermione but failed to ask her in time, and the two argued bitterly over it.

Hermione as Viktor Krum's kidnap victim during the Second Task.

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.

Ron: "She’ll be after you next, Hermione."

Hermione: "Let her try! I’ll show her! Silly little girl, am I? Oh, I’ll get her back for this."

— Hermione and Ron discussing Rita Skeeter

Rita Skeeter, a journalist for the Daily Prophet and unregistered Animagus, was hiding in beetle form in Hermione's hair during this conversation. Skeeter later wrote a scathing article on the "the devious Miss Granger", claiming that she was toying with both Harry and Krum's affections. Hermione found this irritating and vowed to get revenge on Skeeter for all the horrible lies she wrote for the Prophet about herself, Harry, and Hagrid.

On the ride home on the Hogwarts Express, Hermione happily revealed she uncovered Skeeter's status as an unregistered Animagus and trapped her in a jar. She kept Skeeter from writing libel for a year by threatening to expose her to the authorities. She single-handedly drove Skeeter into poverty, gaining revenge for the pain caused to Harry and her other friends.

Fifth Year

Hermione in her fifth year.

Ron: "Seamus reckons that Harry's lying about You-Know-Who."

Hermione: "Yes, Lavender thinks so too... 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 on her belief in Harry about Voldemort's return.

Hermione Granger was made an underage member of the Order of the Phoenix in 1995. She did work for the Order first by helping exterminate the pests living at Number 12, Grimmauld Place. She continued her work for the Order, showing her worth as a true Gryffindor by bolstering Harry Potter throughout his tribulations with High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge. She pushed Harry to create Dumbledore's Army, or the D.A., after Harry was driven to frustrated hysterics over the useless lessons Umbridge was giving to her students. She also became one of the only people to call Voldemort by his name. Among the defensive spells Hermione became skilled with in the D.A. was the Patronus Charm; her Patronus took the form of an otter.

Hermione practicing with the D.A.

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 cursed 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. Hermione was not exposed at that time, but later she was brought to Umbridge's office by the Inquisitorial Squad.

Harry had a vision of his godfather being tortured by Voldemort in the Department of Mysteries. Hermione worried that it was a trap, and convinced Harry to try to contact Sirius before doing anything rash. To that end, they snuck into Dolores Umbridge's office to use the Floo Network, with the assistance of Ron, Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood, but were ultimately caught. When Umbridge threatened to use the Cruciatus Curse on Harry during questioning, Hermione interceded, coming up with a lie about what she and her fellow D.A. members had been planning. She successfully lured Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest, where the toad-like villain was carried off by a herd of Centaurs. Hermione and Harry then met 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.

D.A. members fighting Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries.

That night, Hermione fought in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. She 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.

Hermione: "Well, it's certainly given them lots to write about. And that interview with Harry isn't exclusive, it's the one that was in The Quibbler months ago..."

Luna: "Daddy sold it to them. He got a very good price for it, too, so we're going to go on an expedition to Sweden this summer to see if we can catch a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."

Hermione: "That sounds lovely."

— Hermione and Luna

Hermione was challenged in other ways 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.

Sixth Year

Hermione in Potions class in her sixth year, with an impressed Professor Slughorn.

Hermione: "Did you really tell him I'm the best in the year? Oh, Harry!"

Ron: "Well, what's so impressive about that? You are the best in the year- I'd've told him so if he'd asked me!"

— Hermione, Ron and Harry in Professor Slughorn's Potions class.

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 dwelled upon; Ron found it amusing that she actually seemed disappointed by this.

Hermione and Ron's relationship suffered greatly in their sixth year. Ron became envious when both Hermione and Harry 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 asked if he wanted to attend Slughorn's Christmas party with her, the two seemed on their way to a romantic relationship. However, in an argument with his sister, Ron learned that Hermione had most likely kissed Viktor Krum during their earlier romance and became very jealous, treating Hermione coldly. He became even angrier with her when she believed that Harry slipped Ron Felix Felicis to assist in his Quidditch-playing abilities, accusing her of having no faith in him.

All of this culminated in Ron beginning a very public relationship with fellow Gryffindor student Lavender Brown. Hermione was so furious that she conjured a flock of canaries to attack Ron when she discovered this, and the two ceased being on speaking terms. Hermione fought back by attending the aforementioned Christmas party with Cormac McLaggen, an older Gryffindor that Ron despised. It backfired when Hermione found McLaggen extremely irritating and not at all a gentleman.

Hermione with Harry and Ginny at the Gryffindor table.

Hermione: "Oh, I've just escaped - I mean, I've just left Cormac. Under the mistletoe... I'd thought he'd annoy Ron most. I debated for a while about Zacharias Smith, but I thought, on the whole-"

Harry: "You considered Smith?"

Hermione: "Yes, I did, and I'm starting to wish I'd chosen him, McLaggen makes Grawp look a gentleman."

— Hermione at Slughorn's Christmas party

The two reconciled after Ron was hospitalized due to consuming poisonous mead, an event that left Hermione shaken. By this time, Ron was visibily 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 infirmary. He began avoiding Lavender, who soon became suspicious of his relationship with Hermione, ultimately leading to an argument and her breaking up with him. Afterwards, Hermione and Ron were more comfortable together, and their relationship improved considerably.

Hermione also fought in the First Battle of Hogwarts near the end of that school year. She remained unscathed thanks to some Felix Felicis, which Harry forced her, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna to drink beforehand. During the funeral of Albus Dumbledore, she was comforted by Ron and following that they promised Harry that they would assist him in his hunt for the Horcruxes, the key to defeating Lord Voldemort.

Searching for Horcruxes

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

Hermione, along with Harry and Ron, planned to forgo her seventh year at Hogwarts in order to search for the Horcruxes. Concerned for the safety of her family, she altered her parents' memories, sending them to hide in Australia no longer aware of their original identities or the existence of their daughter.

Battle over Little Whinging

Hermione as one of the "seven Potters".

Hermione then joined with the Order of the Phoenix in the operation to remove Harry from Number 4, Privet Drive before his seventeenth 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 and were pursued by Voldemort himself at one point. In time, they arrived safely at the Burrow, where Hermione was immensely relieved to see Ron and Harry safe, and saddened by the news of Alastor Moody's murder.

Later on, Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour arrived to give certain personal items of Albus Dumbledore 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", to the bewilderment of Ron and Harry, who had both believed her knowledge of Quidditch to be negligible.

Hermione: "They wanted to examine whatever he's left us. You had no right to do that!... The law was created to stop wizards passing on Dark artifacts, and the Ministry is supposed to have powerful evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing them! Are you telling me that you thought Dumbledore was trying to pass us something cursed?"

Rufus Scrimgeour: "Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss Granger?"

Hermione: "No, I'm not. I'm hoping to do some good in the world!"

— Hermione arguing with the Minister over his belated reading of Dumbledore's will

At Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding on August 1, 1997, Hermione shared a friendly exchange with Viktor Krum, to the frustration of Ron, who quickly asked her to dance. When Krum asked a disguised Harry whether the two were together, Harry replied "Er...sort of".

Escape from the Burrow

The wedding was interrupted by a warning from Kingsley Shacklebolt 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, Harry's Invisibility Cloak, and several useful books.

Hermione, Ron and Harry on Tottenham Court Road.

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."

— after leaving the Burrow

However, the trio unknowingly triggered the Taboo curse that was placed on Voldemort's name and were thus tracked down by Antonin Dolohov and Thorfinn Rowle to Tottenham Court Road. 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 Number 12 Grimmauld Place.

Infiltration of the Ministry of Magic

After learning from Mundungus Fletcher that Dolores Umbridge had Salazar Slytherin'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. They met up with Ron again and fled the Ministry, though Yaxley grabbed onto Hermione's arm while they were Disapparating. This forced Hermione to use a Revulsion Jinx on him, and then to take the trio away from Grimmauld Place.

Godric's Hollow

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. This culminated in an argument between Harry and Ron that resulted in Ron temporarily abandoning his friends. Hermione cried for more than a week after Ron's departure, although she tried to hide it from Harry.

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!"

— Ron's departure

The pair decided to go to Godric's Hollow to see the graves of Harry's parents and to speak to historian Bathilda Bagshot. There, they were attacked by Nagini, who had been waiting for them in the guise of the old woman, whose body 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. In the foray, Hermione cast a Blasting Curse which damaged Harry's wand beyond repair. He was heartbroken.

Ron's Return and the Lovegood House

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 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 and punched Ron until Harry cast a Shield Charm between them with Hermione's wand. She was furious with him for days for abandoning them.

The trio then traveled 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 realized that Luna Lovegood wasn't at home, and had been away for a long time. Xenophilius revealed to them that Luna had been taken prisoner by Death Eaters and he had 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 Snorknack 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.

Ron: "You're a genius."

Harry: "Yeah, you are, Hermione. I don’t know what we’d do without you."

— Harry and Ron after the escape from the Lovegood House

Battle of Malfoy Manor

Hermione, Harry, and Ron were eventually tracked down and captured by a group of Snatchers, which included the werewolf Fenrir Greyback, who was eager to bite Hermione. They were brought to Malfoy Manor and turned over to Bellatrix Lestrange, who 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 torture her with the Cruciatus Curse 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 story that the sword was merely a copy of the real thing, a lie Harry persuaded the imprisoned goblin Griphook to go along with.

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

Hermione and the other prisoners were rescued by Dobby the house-elf, who brought them to Shell Cottage, where Bill and Fleur took up residence after their marriage. Unfortunately, Dobby was killed during this escape.

Gringotts Break-In

Hermione, Harry, Ron stayed at Shell Cottage for some time, where Fleur helped Hermione recover from her trauma. The trio formed a plan to break into the Lestrange vault at Gringotts to retreive 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, combined with Bellatrix's hair. It was determined that Hermione was "too polite" to really impersonate Bellatrix, but they 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.

Battle of Hogwarts

The trio finally returned to Hogwarts in the spring of 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, causing Hermione to abandon all pretext of indifference and 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 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.

Hermione: "Listen to me -- LISTEN RON!"

Ron: "I wanna help -- I wanna kill Death Eaters--"

Hermione: "Ron, we're the only ones who can end it! Please -- Ron -- we need the snake, we've got to kill the snake! We will fight! We'll have to, to reach the snake! But let's not lose sight now of what we're supposed to be d-doing! We're the only ones who can end it!"

— Hermione and Ron after Fred's death

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, likely saving the other girl's life. 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.

When the Battle of Hogwarts resumed after Harry's supposed death, Hermione fought Bellatrix Lestrange alongside Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood, 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 the final defeat of Lord Voldemort and survived the battle relatively unscathed.

Legacy

In 1998, Hermione went back to Hogwarts, to attain her N.E.W.Ts. She was the only one of the trio to do this. By 2017, Hermione and Ron were married with two children, Rose and Hugo. She is also the godmother of Harry and Ginny's older son, James.

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 attain a high position in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, eradicating the old laws biased in favour of pure-bloods. Along with Harry and Ron, she helped to revolutionize the Ministry and reform the wizarding world. At some point, Hermione, Harry and Ron were all featured on Chocolate Frog Cards for their accomplishments.

Physical Description

Hermione at age sixteen.

Hermione has bushy brown hair, a bossy sort of voice and brown eyes. As a youngster, she had rather large front teeth, prompting insults from students such as Pansy Parkinson, who compared her to a chipmunk. Hermione had Nurse Poppy Pomfrey magically shrink them in 1994 after she was accidentally struck with a Densaugeo spell. Hermione never gave much attention to her appearance, except in that same year when she used great care in fixing her hair for the Yule Ball. Many of her fellow students were stunned by how pretty Hermione looked that evening.

She is implied to be relatively plain in her younger years, but becomes quite attractive in her late teens. She received positive attention for her appearance from Ron Weasley and Viktor Krum at the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour, from Muggle men at Tottenham Court Road, and, disturbingly, from Fenrir Greyback.

In the film adaptions of the series, Emma Watson never had large front teeth, so Hermione is not shown as having large teeth either. Also in the films, Hermione's hair is not as bushy as implied in the books.

Personality and Traits

Professor 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: "Yes, sir."

Professor Slughorn: "Well, well, take twenty well-earned points for Gryffindor, Miss Granger."

— after Hermione impresses Professor Slughorn in Potions

Hermione is noted for being extremely intelligent and hard-working, coming out on top in most of her classes and continuously helping Ron, Harry, and Neville Longbottom with their schoolwork. She was given a Time-Turner in her third year to facilitate her taking many more courses than most students. She was so adept at school work at that 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 organization promoting the freedom of house-elves. Such acts demonstrate Hermione’s developing social conscience, tenacity, and compassion.

Unlike most wizards who depend solely on their magical ability, Hermione readily relies on logic, which carries her through nearly any challenge she encounters. She often acts as the voice of reason among her more impulsive friends, to varying levels of success, and is reluctant to break rules unless it is absolutely necessary. Hermione is not afraid to stand up to her friends when she thinks it is in their best interests or when she feels they are wrong; she risked angering Harry by getting his Firebolt confiscated because she feared it might be jinxed, and argued with both him and Ginny over his use of the Dark Sectumsempra spell.

Ron, Luna, Neville, Hermione, Harry and Ginny in the Department of Mysteries in 1996.

Because of her intelligence and her opinionated nature, Hermione has the reputation for being a bossy know-it-all. However, J.K. Rowling has noted that Hermione’s sometimes abrasive confidence masks her insecurities and great fear of failure, as personified by her Boggart. Hermione feels the need to prove herself, perhaps partly because of how many people in wizarding society look down on Muggle-borns. She does not let anyone bully her about this, however, and stands up to bigots like Draco Malfoy who taunt her with the derogatory epithet "Mudblood". She also starts saying Voldemort's name in her fifth year.

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

Hermione demonstrates her bravery many times during her adventures with Harry and Ron, though she initially shows a tendency toward mild panic. She is extremely loyal to her friends, fiercely defending them if they are insulted and willing to risk her life to help them. She also gave them advice rather often, such as in trying to make Harry understand Cho Chang’s behaviour on their date, and in helping Ginny Weasley deal with her crush on Harry. Hermione also tends to be rather argumentative, a trait most evident in her interactions with Ron Weasley. Although Hermione is generally not as short-tempered as her friends, she has displayed a formidable one on several occasions, such as slapping Draco Malfoy in defence of Hagrid, blackmailing Rita Skeeter as revenge for her slander of Hermione and her friends in the press, sabotaging Cormac McLaggen's tryout as a Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team after he insulted Ron and Ginny, and conjuring a flock of canaries to attack Ron in their sixth year.

Abilities and Powers

"You're the cleverest witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione."

— Remus Lupin

Hermione proved to be a witch of exceptional skill and talent. Even prior to beginning her education at Hogwarts, she practiced some simple spells, which all worked. 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; a notable remark, considering that Remus once shared classes with the outstandingly talented Lily Evans and Bellatrix Lestrange during his days as a Hogwarts student. J.K. Rowling has described Hermione as "borderline genius".

Magic Mastery: At Hogwarts, Hermione was usually the first to master any spell, and was capable of using spells beyond her educational level. She earned ten O.W.L.s: nine "O"s, and one "E", in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry Potter was the strongest student in that subject. But even Harry acknowledged that Hermione was "the best in our year", and repeatedly admires her spellwork.

Nonverbal Spell Expert: Hermione became highly skilled at nonverbal 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.

Spell Invention Skill: Hermione may also be capable of inventing spells, a rare and very advanced skill, as she seems to have invented the Four-Point Spell for Harry’s use during the Triwizard Tournament.

Skilled Duelist: Although she is reluctant to engage in risky actions and is initially prone to panic, Hermione demonstrated her fighting ability on numerous occasions. 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, and fully recovered from a potentially fatal curse. By the time she accompanied Ron and Harry on the search for the Horcruxes, her spell-work was swifter than opponents like 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 forced Fenrir Greyback away from an injured Lavender Brown. She also held her own against Bellatrix Lestrange, despite being handicapped by using Bellatrix's own wand against her. Her dueling style is creative and unpredictable, mixing non-combat spells along with more conventional combative spells to overcome her opponents.

Charm's Expert: Hermione's array of protective charms defended her, Harry, and Ron for almost a year while they were searching for Voldemort's Horcruxes. This is impressive, considering that far more experienced wizards were captured within months. She also enchanted a small beaded bag 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.

Relationships

Harry Potter

Hermione and Harry in the Forbidden Forest.

"I love her like a sister and I reckon she feels the same way about me. It’s always been like that."

— Harry Potter to Ron Weasley about Hermione in 1998

Hermione became friends with Harry Potter after he and Ron Weasley saved her from a Mountain Troll in their first year. They tended to get along 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. Hermione was very loyal to Harry, helping him with everything from fighting Death Eaters to school work, 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. She stuck by Harry even when Ron, his other best friend and her romantic interest, temporarily left them during the search for the Horcruxes and asked her to go with him. Others, including Cho Chang, Viktor Krum, and even Ron, have occasionally mistaken Harry and Hermione's relationship for a romantic one, given their closeness and occasional expressions of affection, such as Hermione kissing Harry on the cheek after the Triwizard Tournament. But by Harry's description, they love each other like siblings; notably, both are only children raised in the Muggle world. Harry would later ask Hermione to be godmother to his oldest child.

Ron Weasley

Although their relationship would have many ups and downs, Ron and Hermione were good friends for most of their years at Hogwarts. They tended to bicker frequently, though neither seemed particularly bothered by this, often not understanding why others, Harry included, found it strange. They also had a habit of making each other blush, though both tried to hide this. Their first major falling-out was in their third year, when Ron accused Hermione’s pet cat Crookshanks of eating his pet rat Scabbers. Their 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.

File:Ronald Weasley.jpg

Ron Weasley

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. 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 she expresed it in a subtler way.

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

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, Ron comforted Hermione several times by putting his arm around her, and were generally kinder to one another. During the hunt for the Horcruxes, Hermione was extremely upset when Ron temporarily left her and Harry, crying often and 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 before the Battle of Hogwarts. The pair eventually married and had two children.

Neville Longbottom

Neville Longbottom with Trevor.

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 discussing the attempted theft of Gryffindor's Sword

Hermione was good friends with Neville Longbottom, though not to the same extent as with Harry and Ron. They met on the train to Hogwarts during their first year and she helped him search for his toad Trevor. Hermione helped Neville many times with their schoolwork, notably with Potions, as Professor Snape noted that she was often "hissing instructions in his ear." Neville asked Hermione to attend the Yule Ball with him in 1994, though she had already agreed to accompany Viktor Krum. 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 confidence and bravery.

Ginny Weasley

Hermione and Ginny.

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

Ginny Weasley was probably Hermione's closest 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 and about having kissed him at least once, while Hermione was the only one who knew that Ginny had been learning to fly in secret for years. She also gave Ginny advice about dealing with her feelings for Harry - advice that eventually led to the two dating. Hermione comforted Ginny after the encounter with Dementors in 1993 and after the death of her brother Fred in 1998. The two eventually became sisters-in-law, and Hermione would be godmother to Ginny's oldest child, James.

Luna Lovegood

Luna reading The Quibbler (upside down).

Hermione: "The Quibbler's rubbish, everyone knows that..."

Luna: "Excuse me. My father's the editor."

Hermione: "I - oh. Well...it's got some interesting...I mean, it's quite..."

— Hermione and Luna's first meeting

Although Hermione rarely saw eye-to-eye with Luna Lovegood due to their very different worldviews and beliefs, the two became friends through Dumbledore's Army. 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 and snapped at the portrait of Phineas Nigellus for calling Luna an oddity.

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

Viktor Krum

Viktor and Hermione at the Yule Ball.

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.

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. Their arrival together caused something of a stir, given Viktor's fame and Hermione's exceptional beauty.

Hermione acted as 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. At some point, he and Hermione shared a kiss, but she never visited him in Bulgaria. The two kept in contact through letters over the years. They met again at the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour in 1997, where Viktor was disappointed to learn that Hermione was "sort of" with Ron Weasley.

Draco Malfoy

Draco Malfoy

Ron: "Hermione – who are you going to the ball with?"

Draco: "You're joking, Weasley! You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?"

Hermione: "Hello, Professor Moody!... Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?"

— Hermione embarasses Draco about his Transfiguration into a ferret

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 exascerbated 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, which his father berated him for. 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 — 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, which Draco was largely responsible for.

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.

Cormac McLaggen

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

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 Weasley during Quidditch tryouts, 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 to speak to Harry and Luna and subsequently avoided the overzealous wizard.

Hermione's parents with Arthur Weasley in Flourish and Blotts.

Parents

Mr. and Mrs. Granger are both Muggle dentists and, according to J.K. Rowling, are “a bit bemused by their odd daughter but quite proud of her all the same”. They seem to be accepting of the wizarding world, shopping with Hermione in Diagon Alley and speaking to the Weasley family, but do not approve of their daughter using magic as a quick-fix, as indicated by their not allowing Hermione to magically fix her teeth. They correspond by owl post with their daughter, but other than one holiday in France, Hermione spends 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 Number 12 Grimmauld Place to try to cheer Harry up. To protect them during the height of the war, Hermione modified her parents' memories in 1997 so that they believed they were other people and left the country. After the war, she presumably found them in Australia and returned their memories. They are not very developed by Rowling, and to date, there is not even a mention of their names.

Etymology

Hermione in 1993

Hermione was a character from A Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare's Hermione 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 concludes that his wife has been unfaithful to him (mirroring Ron's suspicions against Harry and Hermione in Deathly Hallows). Eventually, however, he realizes otherwise, and in the end he, Hermione and their daughter are happily reunited.

Hermione was also 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 and patron of various arts.

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 pronounciation 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 pronounciation; 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".

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

• J.K. Rowling based Hermione on herself as a child, though exaggerated. Additionally, Hermione's Patronus, an otter, is Rowling's favorite animal.
• In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, she tells Rufus Scrimgeour that she is not planning to embark on a career in Magical Law Enforcement. Ironically, that's where she ends up after leaving Hogwarts.
• In early drafts, Hermione was supposed to have a sister (it is unknown if she would have been a Muggle or a Witch).
• In August of 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.
• Hermione shares a last name with potioneer Hector Dagworth-Granger, though she does not think they are related, since she is Muggle-born.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (game)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (film)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (game)