Hermione Grager

"*Nobody in my family’s magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it’s the very best school of witchcraft there is, I’ve heard — I’ve learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough —*"
— Hermione describing her Muggle heritage

Hermione Jean Granger is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's *Harry Potter* series. She is a Muggle-born Gryffindor, who becomes best friends with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. She was born on 19 September 1979 and she was nearly twelve when she first attended Hogwarts. She first appears in *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, as a new student on her way to Hogwarts. After Harry and Ron save her from a mountain troll in the girls' restroom, she becomes best friends with them and often uses her quick wit, deft recall, and encyclopedic knowledge to lend aid in dire situations. Hermione resembles herself as a young girl, with her insecurity and fear of failure.

Upon turning eleven, Hermione was happily surprised to learn that she was a witch and was therefore invited to attend Hogwarts. 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 spellbooks 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, to the point that she had looked at books and had more knowledge of the wizarding world than some of her pure-blood/half-blood classmates.

She is an overachiever who excels academically and is described as a very logical, upright and good character. Hermione's parents, two Muggle dentists, are a bit bemused by their odd daughter but very proud of her all the same. They are well aware of the wizarding world and have visited Diagon Alley with her. The character of Luna Lovegood is "anti-Hermione" as they are so very different and Hermione's nemesis at Hogwarts is Pansy Parkinson.

Hermione's first name is taken from a character in William Shakespeare's *The Winter's Tale*, though Rowling has said that the two characters have little to nothing in common otherwise. Rowling said that she wanted her name to be unusual since if fewer girls shared her name, fewer girls would get teased for it and it seemed that "a pair of professional dentists, who liked to prove how clever they are...gave her an unusual name that no-one could pronounce."

Hermione's most prominent features include her prodigious intellect and cleverness. She is levelheaded, book-smart, and always very logical. Throughout the series, Hermione uses the skills of a librarian and teacher to gather the information necessary to defeat Voldemort, the "Dark Lord". When in doubt, it is to the school library that Hermione always turns. She is often bossy yet unfailingly dutiful and loyal to her friends—a person who can always be counted on. Hermione is a person that, never strays off the path; she always keeps her attention focused on the job that must be done. Despite Hermione's intelligence and bossy attitude, Hermione has quite a lot of vulnerability in her personality, as well as a sense of insecurity underneath, feels, utterly inadequate... and to compensate, she tries and strives to be the best at everything at school, projecting a confidence that irritates people. During her Defence Against the Dark Arts exam at the end of *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Hermione reveals that her biggest fear is failure after a Boggart takes the form of Professor McGonagall and tells her that she has failed all her exams.

Hermione is extremely compassionate and is very quick to help others, especially those who are defenceless, such as Neville Longbottom, first-years, House-Elves, fellow Muggle-borns, half-giants like Hagrid, and werewolves like Lupin. It was revealed after the publication of the final book that Hermione's career in the Ministry was to fight for the rights of the oppressed and disenfranchised (such as House-elves or Muggle-borns). Hermione is also very protective of her friends and values them so much that Rowling has suggested that, if Hermione had looked in the Mirror of Erised, she would have seen Harry, Ron, and herself alive and unscathed, and Voldemort finished. Hermione has also learned to ignore what bullies such as Draco Malfoy say to her, often preventing Harry and Ron from retaliating and thinking of some way to outsmart him. She accepts her status as a Muggle-born witch, and states in *Deathly Hallows* that she is a Mudblood and proud of it.