When Harry Potter writer J.K.Rowling wrote the line "This boy will be famous. There won’t be a child in our world who doesn’t know his name" she had no idea how true those words would become. Harry Potter is one of the most loved series of modern generations, and has been translated into over 60 languages, so that fans can enjoy it across the globe. The themes in the series speak to people on so many levels, of friendship, of compassion, of bravery, and most of all, love in the face of great tragedy.
There are many amazing aspects to the series that make them so popular, from the vast array of potions/tinctures and spells, to the host of wonderful magical creatures that populate the world. But beyond even the fantasy elements and the mysteries that are slowly solved across the books, it is the characters that truly won the hearts of millions, and of course, the actors who played them on screen, including Emma Watson.
Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the films, became an inspiration for young girls who want to go above and beyond the ordinary. Whilst the actress herself grew into a hero in the real world, advocating for women’s rights to education in economically challenged countries, and starting several activist projects, her character also has some fantastic and powerful moments throughout the movies. Here are 5 of her best Hermione Granger moments:
Finding out about the Basilisk
Everyone knows that Hermione is the brains behind every operation the trio undertakes. In her first year at Hogwarts, she manages to save all of their lives when battling against the troll in the bathroom, and when casting Lumos Solem to combat the Devil's Snare that is strangling Ron in the trials to reach the Sorcerer's Stone. But arguably one of her most important discoveries in these early stages of their journey is that of the Basilisk, the giant serpent living in the pipes below Hogwarts. Thanks to her extra reading and quick thinking, Harry and Ron discover the piece of paper in her hand informing them about the creature just in time to save Ginny Weasley’s life, and prevent another tragedy from taking place. All of the Basilisk's victims are subsequently healed, and Hermione once again saves the day.
Destroying the Horcruxes
This one is sort of a team effort between Harry, Ron and Hermione, but the other two wouldn’t have ever solved the riddles without Hermione’s help. She is the character who figure out so many of the mysteries behind the horcruxes, including the Deathly Hallows symbol from her reading of The Three Brothers, using the basilisk fang to destroy the Hufflepuff cup in the final film, before the scene in which she kisses Ron, and also figuring out that in order to destroy Voldemort once and for all, Harry would have to die. Her quick thinking has saved their skins more times than can be counted, against a whole range of enemies like Umbridge, whom Hermione tricks into following them to the Forbidden Forest, and the Malfoy’s, whom she disguises Harry from with a Stinging Jinx.
Punching Malfoy
Hermione has so many cool moments in The Prisoner of Azkaban, the third film in the trilogy, from Time-turning her way through several extra curricular classes, to helping save both the beautiful Buckbeak, and Harry’s Godfather Sirius Black, from a terrible and unjust fate. But one of the all time fan favorites for her character is when she punches Draco Malfoy in the face. He has been a petulant and self-righteous character from the start, often classing with Hermione and treating her cruelly because she is Muggle born, or ‘mudblood’ as he calls it, so it is very satisfying to see her leave him groveling and sniveling after a right hook straight in the nose. Despite Emma Watson and Tom Felton having a wholesome friendship on set, and remaining true admirers of one another even beyond filming, it is great to see her character finally give Draco his just desserts.
Hermione’s magic handbag.
Hermione is the Mary Poppins of the Wizarding world, and is always prepared to face whatever trials may come their way. She is both practical and nurturing, and has been carrying around a bag loaded with everything her and her friends may need to survive out in the wild, with her for weeks.
As soon as trouble begins to surface within the Ministry of Magic, Hermione begins strategizing, planning escape routes, and preparing to keep Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Ron (Rupert Grint) safe at all costs. This little bag conceals them for weeks when they flee from Bill Weasley’s wedding, and gives them both time and a safe place from which to find and destroy the horcruxes. Within her magic back of supplies, the audience can see all of the love and care she has for her friends, and how she has taken it upon herself to make sure that they never enter a dangerous situation unprepared.
Wiping her Parents memories
This is one of the most heartbreaking scenes through the entire franchise. After everything that Hermione has been through (and everything that she is still yet to face, including torture by Bellatrix Lestrange and the final Battle for Hogwarts) it is all the more wrenching to watch her erase herself from the only family she has ever known. Emma Watson performs the scene in the most poignant and devastating way, her voice breaking as she calls down to her mum for the final time, and it is a scene of quiet, heartbreaking drama that has stayed with fans long after the films were finished. It is a true testament to how selfless she is, and how she is willing to prioritize the ones she loves over her own happiness. It is believed by many fans that she is later able to return their memories and be reunited with them, but this is never specified within the books.
Emma Watson is a beloved actress both on screen and off, and the recent Return to Hogwarts reunion showed just how much her life was changed by being a part of the Harry Potter series. In some wonderful and tearful scenes with co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, Emma Watson demonstrated true humility in suggesting that it was she that should be grateful and inspired by the incredible fans of the franchise and everything that they had done to make her a bold, strong, and accepted person, rather than the other way around.