Name: Hermione Jane Granger
Age: 18
Birthday: 9/19/1979
Location: England
Parentage: Muggle-born
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. Granger (Dentists)
Pets: Crookshanks (cat)
Hair Color: BrownEye
Color: Brown
Hermione is a Gryffindor student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and is a close friend of Harry Potter and Ron and Ginny Weasley. She plays a key role in many of Harry's adventures and serves as a moderating influence on Harry and Ron.
Personality
Hermione acts, at times, like the mother hen of the trio. She is very studious, and can be a bit bossy and fussy. She's the best student in her year and one of the best in the school, and is often teased and admired in equal measure for her "know-it-all" tendencies. Harry, Ron and especially Neville depend on her for academic help; and her knowledge, research skills, and common sense often prove invaluable in overcoming the trio's more serious challenges. Hermione always goes the extra mile when completing homework assignments, handing in four feet of parchment when she was only asked for two, carrying out independent research and regularly reading ahead of the class. Upon her very first meeting with Harry and Ron, she announces to them that she's, "learnt all our set books off by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough." This excessive studying and determination to be the best at everything often reflects Hermione's deep seated insecurity, a fear of failure that can give way to irrational panic and anxiety. Given that she receives top grades in all of her O.W.L. exams in her fifth year (except for Defence Against the Dark Arts, where she received the second-highest grade) this panic would appear to be misplaced.
Background
Hermione is Muggle-born, that is, the child of two non-magical parents. Mr and Mrs Granger have, to date, received very little "page time." They are both dentists and, according to Rowling, "they are a bit bemused by their odd daughter but quite proud of her all the same." Rowling noted she initially considered giving Hermione a younger sister, but now says it's "too late." Therefore, it's usually considered canon that Hermione is an only child. Hermione has brown eyes and, when she first appears, "lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth." Many at the school have teased her for her looks, including, on one occasion, Professor Snape. During the fourth book, Hermione gets her teeth shrunk to a "normal size" by magic, though her dentist parents wanted her to continue with her braces. When she applies Sleekeazy's Hair Potion and does her hair up in a chignon for the Yule Ball, even Harry and Ron notice she's pretty. Hermione's name is pronounced "her-MY-oh-nee" , as readers find out in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This was the most frequently asked question J. K. Rowling received, so in this book she cunningly had Hermione teach Viktor Krum how to pronounce her name properly (without much success). Rowling said she obtained it from William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, claiming that she wanted it to be unusual, since if fewer girls shared her name, fewer girls would get teased for it. "Hermione", appropriately, is derived from "Hermes", the Greek god of invention, inspiration, eloquence and quick thinking.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Hermione first appeared in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. For the first part of the book, she is portrayed as being an over-the-top "know-it-all" and "goody two-shoes." Needless to say, Harry and Ron do not like her initially, as they consider her to be endlessly annoying, interfering and overbearing. This attitude seems to be shared by most of the other students. However, when Ron makes a passing (but rather rude) remark about Hermione not having any friends, Hermione's feelings are hurt and she retreats to a girls' bathroom to cry. When Ron hears this he feels extremely uncomfortable. Unbeknownst to her, Professor Quirrell lets a mountain troll into the school, which finds its way into the same bathroom. Fortunately, Hermione is rescued by Harry and Ron, whom Harry convinces to help him in his search for Hermione – Ron knows that if he hadn't made that unkind remark, Hermione wouldn't be crying in the bathroom in the first place. When they are discovered by Professors McGonagall, Snape and Quirrell, Hermione lies about the reason she was in the bathroom, claiming she had gone looking for the troll herself, thereby rescuing Harry and Ron from punishment for engaging the troll and endearing herself to them by revealing her inner kindred spirit of rebellion and self-sacrifice. The two boys are amazed that Hermione is lying to teachers, and are very impressed. That episode is the genesis of the close friendship between the trio because, "There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them." Though Hermione's attitude about rules and schoolwork remain largely intact, she softens up a little bit after becoming friends with Harry and Ron. With them, she helps solve the mystery surrounding the Philosopher's Stone. Although she is initially skeptical of Harry and Ron's belief that someone is trying to steal it, she eventually comes around. She also shows her willingness to break the rules when she petrifies Neville Longbottom, who attempts to stop the trio from leaving the common room after hours. Her deep belief in the power of logic is emphasised when she and Harry find themselves in a room where they must correctly identify two potions from a range of bottles that will enable them to pass out of the room in two directions. A riddle is given to them and Harry cannot make sense of it, but Hermione's face glows with a sense of awe at the logical simplicity of the riddle. Harry is impressed by her ability to confidently solve the riddle.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
In her second year, Hermione - like so many other witches - has a crush on the handsome new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart. Ron constantly teases her about this, but Hermione defends Lockhart, despite the fact he is an obvious fraud. Hermione's role is somewhat smaller than in the first book, with Harry appearing only with Ron during most of their adventure. However, she does her part by brewing Polyjuice Potion so they can discover if Draco Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin. It is remarkable that Hermione has the skill to concoct Polyjuice Potion, for it is an extremely complex process and only sixth years study it. Her one mistake is using a hair that she thought was from Millicent Bulstrode, but was actually from Millicent's cat, thus Hermione turned into a part-cat and had to spend some time in the Hogwarts hospital wing. Hermione correctly identifies the creature hidden inside the Chamber of Secrets to be a Basilisk, though she is petrified before being able to divulge the information to Harry and Ron. This, of course, causes her to be absent for much of the latter part of the novel. Hermione's loosening-up continues as well, with her actually convincing Harry and Ron to break the rules rather than vice versa. Considering they are close confidants later on, Hermione probably meets, and becomes friends with, Ginny Weasley some time during the course of this novel.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In the next year, Hermione takes so many classes she requires the use of a Time-Turner, a device which enables her to go back in time, to fit in all her subjects (most of her lessons are scheduled into the same class periods); this fact is not revealed until near the end of the book. Hermione suffers a nervous breakdown due to her exhaustive schedule, though she insists she doesn't need to cut down on the number of classes she is taking. Hermione is estranged from her friends in part of this book: First, she distances herself from them with all the extra work she has to do. Later, she is (in a rather ironic manner; rightly) suspicious about Harry's Christmas gift, a Firebolt broom, and reports it to Professor McGonagall, who confiscates it; and again when Ron accuses her new cat, Crookshanks, of killing his pet rat, Scabbers. During this time, she helps Hagrid prepare for the court case against his hippogriff, Buckbeak. During the preparation for the trial, she breaks down on Ron. Hermione and Ron make up and he pledges to take over the trial. Hermione takes an instant dislike towards Professor Trelawney and her subject, Divination. Towards the end of the year, Hermione storms out of the class after Trelawney predicts Harry's death one time too many, and describes Hermione's mind as "hopelessly mundane." (Ron earlier on comments in a teasing way that he believes that the only reason Hermione dislikes Trelawney is because it's the first time she's been told she's not good at something at Hogwarts.) Despite the fact she is no longer taking every subject available, Hermione still requires a Time-Turner to go to all her classes. Also, much to Harry and Ron's surprise, Hermione gets angry, musters up all her energy and smacks Malfoy right across the face when she hears him making fun of a grief-stricken Hagrid. Hermione's Time-Turner comes in useful at the end of the book when she and Harry travel back in time to rescue Sirius Black and Buckbeak. During the end-of-the-year exams, Hermione's Boggart manifests itself as Professor McGonagall informing her that she had failed all her classes. Although that is amusing, it shows Hermione's great fear of failure. At the end of the book, she drops the class of Muggle Studies, enabling her to have a normal schedule again.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
In her fourth year, Hermione's attention is drawn to what she believes is the poor quality of life for house-elves. She therefore starts the organisation she calls the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, but which becomes known by its unfortunate acronym, SPEW. Though Hermione zealously works for her cause, few others display any interest. Harry and Ron officially join her organisation, though they do so only with the hope she will stop badgering them, and predictably, they contribute very little. Following the estrangement of Harry and Ron, Harry and Hermione are together more than usual, though, and "Harry liked Hermione very much, but she just wasn't the same as Ron." Hermione helps Harry practice the Summoning Charm which allows him to successfully complete the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. Hermione attends the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum, the Triwizard champion from Durmstrang. When Ron had suggested she come with either him or Harry to the ball, she tells him that she's already been asked by someone else, to which he thinks she's joking, and she continues to refuse telling him who her date is. When he sees her at the Yule Ball on the arm of Krum, Ron's jealousy bubbles over and he accuses Hermione of "fraternising with the enemy." A fierce argument breaks out between them, that ends with Hermione declaring, "Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!" and storming off to bed. Hermione is the "hostage" that Krum has to save in the Tournament's Second Task. She is given quite a bit of grief about this afterward and becomes rather irritated. After the task, Krum asks Hermione if she wants to go on a holiday with him. Rita Skeeter, a tabloid reporter, fabricates a love triangle between Harry, Hermione, and Krum. Hermione's relationship with Mrs. Weasley is temporarily cooled by this incident. Krum questions Harry over his relationship with Hermione and Harry firmly refutes any romance. Hermione is enraged with Rita's behaviour and vows vengeance against her. After much work, she determines Rita is an illegal Animagus who can change into a beetle. She blackmails Rita with this information to make Rita stop writing for The Daily Prophet.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
In the beginning of the fifth book, Hermione is staying at Grimmauld Place, the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, with the Weasleys. When she and Ron are reunited with Harry, who is moody and temperamental after being confined to the Dursleys nearly all summer, he loses his temper, which causes Hermione to get rather tearful. Hermione and Ron become prefects for Gryffindor, to Hermione's rule-abiding delight. Their duties include patrolling the corridors of the Hogwarts Express and guiding the Gryffindor first-years to their common room. They also gain entry to the prefect carriage (of course they still sit with Harry) and the prefect's luxurious bathrooms. Hermione also continues SPEW, attempting to befriend Kreacher, the surly and malicious old house-elf who lives in Grimmauld Place. She knits items of clothing for the house-elves at Hogwarts in the hope of freeing them. The house-elves refuse to clean Gryffindor Tower because of this, and the task is left to Dobby. Also, in Order of the Phoenix, Luna Lovegood is introduced. She is Hermione's complete opposite. She's "the anti-Hermione," Rowling says, "Hermione’s so logical and inflexible in so many ways and Luna is likely to believe 10 impossible things before breakfast." Still, though the two girls do not share the same belief system, they become friends and comrades-in-arms when Luna is one of the few to support Harry by joining the DA and aiding them during the climax of the book. Hermione is seen writing a letter to Krum, much to Ron's dismay. Her capture and subsequent blackmail of Rita Skeeter proves useful when she persuades Harry to give an interview stating the return of Lord Voldemort. Hermione also comes up with the idea of Dumbledore's Army. While Hermione is trying to convince Harry to start the DA, she finally says the name, "Voldemort," which is an admirable first for her. During the DA, Hermione conjures a corporeal Patronus in the shape of an otter (Rowling's favourite animal). She is involved in the battle in the Department of Mysteries, in which she is wounded rather badly but after taking ten types of potions a day, she makes a full recovery.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The sixth book marks a notable change in Hermione's character. As a full-blown teenager in a darker and increasingly dangerous time, her flaws and insecurities become more visible than they have in the past. As has become customary, Hermione stays at The Burrow for much of the summer holidays, where she receives her amazing O.W.L. results of ten "Outstandings" and one "Exceeds Expectations", after a panic attack upon the arrival of said O.W.L.s. Despite her nearly perfect score, she was disappointed that she didn't get Outstandings in all her subjects. During her stay with the Weasleys, Hermione once again encounters Fleur Delacour, who is now engaged to Bill Weasley. Her dislike for Fleur, which initially manifested in the fourth book, deepens with more frequent exposure to her. She is not alone in her dislike, as it is apparent that both Mrs. Weasley and Ginny feel the same way. Hermione continues her passion for her schoolwork in the sixth year, and is even invited by Professor Slughorn to join his Slug Club due to her extraordinary talent at school. Ironically, as Harry describes Hermione to Slughorn in an earlier encounter as "the best in our year", she is outperformed by Harry in Potions due to the fact that he has access to the Half-Blood Prince's old textbook. Throughout the book, she becomes increasingly bitter at Harry's overnight success at Potions, especially since she comes to believe that the Half-Blood Prince is a shady character and she considers Harry academically dishonest for using the book. For the second time in their lives, Ron and Hermione have a serious falling out. Their relationship had been progressing with Hermione asking Ron to Slughorn's Christmas party but after hearing from Ginny that Hermione snogged Krum, he is hurt and jealous and eventually begins dating (and unabashedly kissing) Lavender Brown, leaving Hermione heart-broken and distraught. Determined to get even, Hermione takes Cormac McLaggen to the Christmas party instead of Ron just to annoy him, but it doesn't go well; the egomaniacal McLaggen quickly proves to be more than Hermione can stand and she spends the rest of the night hiding from him. During this time, it becomes clear that Hermione and Luna, while still complete opposites in many ways, have come to some sort of mutual acceptance of each other, as Luna at one point comforts Hermione after Ron had been rude to her. After the holidays, Hermione continues to ignore Ron, but when he is poisoned, she is fearfully upset and quietly reconciles with him. Lavender breaks up with Ron when she sees him and Hermione walking down the stairs alone (they are actually accompanied by Harry but he is in his Invisibility Cloak) from the boys' dormitory a few weeks later. Hermione is visibly delighted with Ron's break-up, as is Ron himself. Near the end of the book, at Harry's request, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny, Neville and Luna (the only members of Dumbledore's Army who responded) are sent to patrol Hogwarts – specifically, to monitor Snape and Malfoy. Their efforts half pay off in that they are able to alert the members of the Order who are also on patrol but they still fail to prevent Dumbledore's fall. They themselves just barely survive, thanks to the Felix Felicis that Harry had given them. At the end of the book, Hermione and Ron tell Harry that they will stick with him wherever he goes, even if it means leaving Hogwarts.
Age: 18
Birthday: 9/19/1979
Location: England
Parentage: Muggle-born
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. Granger (Dentists)
Pets: Crookshanks (cat)
Hair Color: BrownEye
Color: Brown
Hermione is a Gryffindor student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and is a close friend of Harry Potter and Ron and Ginny Weasley. She plays a key role in many of Harry's adventures and serves as a moderating influence on Harry and Ron.
Personality
Hermione acts, at times, like the mother hen of the trio. She is very studious, and can be a bit bossy and fussy. She's the best student in her year and one of the best in the school, and is often teased and admired in equal measure for her "know-it-all" tendencies. Harry, Ron and especially Neville depend on her for academic help; and her knowledge, research skills, and common sense often prove invaluable in overcoming the trio's more serious challenges. Hermione always goes the extra mile when completing homework assignments, handing in four feet of parchment when she was only asked for two, carrying out independent research and regularly reading ahead of the class. Upon her very first meeting with Harry and Ron, she announces to them that she's, "learnt all our set books off by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough." This excessive studying and determination to be the best at everything often reflects Hermione's deep seated insecurity, a fear of failure that can give way to irrational panic and anxiety. Given that she receives top grades in all of her O.W.L. exams in her fifth year (except for Defence Against the Dark Arts, where she received the second-highest grade) this panic would appear to be misplaced.
Background
Hermione is Muggle-born, that is, the child of two non-magical parents. Mr and Mrs Granger have, to date, received very little "page time." They are both dentists and, according to Rowling, "they are a bit bemused by their odd daughter but quite proud of her all the same." Rowling noted she initially considered giving Hermione a younger sister, but now says it's "too late." Therefore, it's usually considered canon that Hermione is an only child. Hermione has brown eyes and, when she first appears, "lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth." Many at the school have teased her for her looks, including, on one occasion, Professor Snape. During the fourth book, Hermione gets her teeth shrunk to a "normal size" by magic, though her dentist parents wanted her to continue with her braces. When she applies Sleekeazy's Hair Potion and does her hair up in a chignon for the Yule Ball, even Harry and Ron notice she's pretty. Hermione's name is pronounced "her-MY-oh-nee" , as readers find out in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This was the most frequently asked question J. K. Rowling received, so in this book she cunningly had Hermione teach Viktor Krum how to pronounce her name properly (without much success). Rowling said she obtained it from William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, claiming that she wanted it to be unusual, since if fewer girls shared her name, fewer girls would get teased for it. "Hermione", appropriately, is derived from "Hermes", the Greek god of invention, inspiration, eloquence and quick thinking.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Hermione first appeared in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. For the first part of the book, she is portrayed as being an over-the-top "know-it-all" and "goody two-shoes." Needless to say, Harry and Ron do not like her initially, as they consider her to be endlessly annoying, interfering and overbearing. This attitude seems to be shared by most of the other students. However, when Ron makes a passing (but rather rude) remark about Hermione not having any friends, Hermione's feelings are hurt and she retreats to a girls' bathroom to cry. When Ron hears this he feels extremely uncomfortable. Unbeknownst to her, Professor Quirrell lets a mountain troll into the school, which finds its way into the same bathroom. Fortunately, Hermione is rescued by Harry and Ron, whom Harry convinces to help him in his search for Hermione – Ron knows that if he hadn't made that unkind remark, Hermione wouldn't be crying in the bathroom in the first place. When they are discovered by Professors McGonagall, Snape and Quirrell, Hermione lies about the reason she was in the bathroom, claiming she had gone looking for the troll herself, thereby rescuing Harry and Ron from punishment for engaging the troll and endearing herself to them by revealing her inner kindred spirit of rebellion and self-sacrifice. The two boys are amazed that Hermione is lying to teachers, and are very impressed. That episode is the genesis of the close friendship between the trio because, "There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them." Though Hermione's attitude about rules and schoolwork remain largely intact, she softens up a little bit after becoming friends with Harry and Ron. With them, she helps solve the mystery surrounding the Philosopher's Stone. Although she is initially skeptical of Harry and Ron's belief that someone is trying to steal it, she eventually comes around. She also shows her willingness to break the rules when she petrifies Neville Longbottom, who attempts to stop the trio from leaving the common room after hours. Her deep belief in the power of logic is emphasised when she and Harry find themselves in a room where they must correctly identify two potions from a range of bottles that will enable them to pass out of the room in two directions. A riddle is given to them and Harry cannot make sense of it, but Hermione's face glows with a sense of awe at the logical simplicity of the riddle. Harry is impressed by her ability to confidently solve the riddle.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
In her second year, Hermione - like so many other witches - has a crush on the handsome new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart. Ron constantly teases her about this, but Hermione defends Lockhart, despite the fact he is an obvious fraud. Hermione's role is somewhat smaller than in the first book, with Harry appearing only with Ron during most of their adventure. However, she does her part by brewing Polyjuice Potion so they can discover if Draco Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin. It is remarkable that Hermione has the skill to concoct Polyjuice Potion, for it is an extremely complex process and only sixth years study it. Her one mistake is using a hair that she thought was from Millicent Bulstrode, but was actually from Millicent's cat, thus Hermione turned into a part-cat and had to spend some time in the Hogwarts hospital wing. Hermione correctly identifies the creature hidden inside the Chamber of Secrets to be a Basilisk, though she is petrified before being able to divulge the information to Harry and Ron. This, of course, causes her to be absent for much of the latter part of the novel. Hermione's loosening-up continues as well, with her actually convincing Harry and Ron to break the rules rather than vice versa. Considering they are close confidants later on, Hermione probably meets, and becomes friends with, Ginny Weasley some time during the course of this novel.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In the next year, Hermione takes so many classes she requires the use of a Time-Turner, a device which enables her to go back in time, to fit in all her subjects (most of her lessons are scheduled into the same class periods); this fact is not revealed until near the end of the book. Hermione suffers a nervous breakdown due to her exhaustive schedule, though she insists she doesn't need to cut down on the number of classes she is taking. Hermione is estranged from her friends in part of this book: First, she distances herself from them with all the extra work she has to do. Later, she is (in a rather ironic manner; rightly) suspicious about Harry's Christmas gift, a Firebolt broom, and reports it to Professor McGonagall, who confiscates it; and again when Ron accuses her new cat, Crookshanks, of killing his pet rat, Scabbers. During this time, she helps Hagrid prepare for the court case against his hippogriff, Buckbeak. During the preparation for the trial, she breaks down on Ron. Hermione and Ron make up and he pledges to take over the trial. Hermione takes an instant dislike towards Professor Trelawney and her subject, Divination. Towards the end of the year, Hermione storms out of the class after Trelawney predicts Harry's death one time too many, and describes Hermione's mind as "hopelessly mundane." (Ron earlier on comments in a teasing way that he believes that the only reason Hermione dislikes Trelawney is because it's the first time she's been told she's not good at something at Hogwarts.) Despite the fact she is no longer taking every subject available, Hermione still requires a Time-Turner to go to all her classes. Also, much to Harry and Ron's surprise, Hermione gets angry, musters up all her energy and smacks Malfoy right across the face when she hears him making fun of a grief-stricken Hagrid. Hermione's Time-Turner comes in useful at the end of the book when she and Harry travel back in time to rescue Sirius Black and Buckbeak. During the end-of-the-year exams, Hermione's Boggart manifests itself as Professor McGonagall informing her that she had failed all her classes. Although that is amusing, it shows Hermione's great fear of failure. At the end of the book, she drops the class of Muggle Studies, enabling her to have a normal schedule again.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
In her fourth year, Hermione's attention is drawn to what she believes is the poor quality of life for house-elves. She therefore starts the organisation she calls the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, but which becomes known by its unfortunate acronym, SPEW. Though Hermione zealously works for her cause, few others display any interest. Harry and Ron officially join her organisation, though they do so only with the hope she will stop badgering them, and predictably, they contribute very little. Following the estrangement of Harry and Ron, Harry and Hermione are together more than usual, though, and "Harry liked Hermione very much, but she just wasn't the same as Ron." Hermione helps Harry practice the Summoning Charm which allows him to successfully complete the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. Hermione attends the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum, the Triwizard champion from Durmstrang. When Ron had suggested she come with either him or Harry to the ball, she tells him that she's already been asked by someone else, to which he thinks she's joking, and she continues to refuse telling him who her date is. When he sees her at the Yule Ball on the arm of Krum, Ron's jealousy bubbles over and he accuses Hermione of "fraternising with the enemy." A fierce argument breaks out between them, that ends with Hermione declaring, "Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!" and storming off to bed. Hermione is the "hostage" that Krum has to save in the Tournament's Second Task. She is given quite a bit of grief about this afterward and becomes rather irritated. After the task, Krum asks Hermione if she wants to go on a holiday with him. Rita Skeeter, a tabloid reporter, fabricates a love triangle between Harry, Hermione, and Krum. Hermione's relationship with Mrs. Weasley is temporarily cooled by this incident. Krum questions Harry over his relationship with Hermione and Harry firmly refutes any romance. Hermione is enraged with Rita's behaviour and vows vengeance against her. After much work, she determines Rita is an illegal Animagus who can change into a beetle. She blackmails Rita with this information to make Rita stop writing for The Daily Prophet.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
In the beginning of the fifth book, Hermione is staying at Grimmauld Place, the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, with the Weasleys. When she and Ron are reunited with Harry, who is moody and temperamental after being confined to the Dursleys nearly all summer, he loses his temper, which causes Hermione to get rather tearful. Hermione and Ron become prefects for Gryffindor, to Hermione's rule-abiding delight. Their duties include patrolling the corridors of the Hogwarts Express and guiding the Gryffindor first-years to their common room. They also gain entry to the prefect carriage (of course they still sit with Harry) and the prefect's luxurious bathrooms. Hermione also continues SPEW, attempting to befriend Kreacher, the surly and malicious old house-elf who lives in Grimmauld Place. She knits items of clothing for the house-elves at Hogwarts in the hope of freeing them. The house-elves refuse to clean Gryffindor Tower because of this, and the task is left to Dobby. Also, in Order of the Phoenix, Luna Lovegood is introduced. She is Hermione's complete opposite. She's "the anti-Hermione," Rowling says, "Hermione’s so logical and inflexible in so many ways and Luna is likely to believe 10 impossible things before breakfast." Still, though the two girls do not share the same belief system, they become friends and comrades-in-arms when Luna is one of the few to support Harry by joining the DA and aiding them during the climax of the book. Hermione is seen writing a letter to Krum, much to Ron's dismay. Her capture and subsequent blackmail of Rita Skeeter proves useful when she persuades Harry to give an interview stating the return of Lord Voldemort. Hermione also comes up with the idea of Dumbledore's Army. While Hermione is trying to convince Harry to start the DA, she finally says the name, "Voldemort," which is an admirable first for her. During the DA, Hermione conjures a corporeal Patronus in the shape of an otter (Rowling's favourite animal). She is involved in the battle in the Department of Mysteries, in which she is wounded rather badly but after taking ten types of potions a day, she makes a full recovery.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The sixth book marks a notable change in Hermione's character. As a full-blown teenager in a darker and increasingly dangerous time, her flaws and insecurities become more visible than they have in the past. As has become customary, Hermione stays at The Burrow for much of the summer holidays, where she receives her amazing O.W.L. results of ten "Outstandings" and one "Exceeds Expectations", after a panic attack upon the arrival of said O.W.L.s. Despite her nearly perfect score, she was disappointed that she didn't get Outstandings in all her subjects. During her stay with the Weasleys, Hermione once again encounters Fleur Delacour, who is now engaged to Bill Weasley. Her dislike for Fleur, which initially manifested in the fourth book, deepens with more frequent exposure to her. She is not alone in her dislike, as it is apparent that both Mrs. Weasley and Ginny feel the same way. Hermione continues her passion for her schoolwork in the sixth year, and is even invited by Professor Slughorn to join his Slug Club due to her extraordinary talent at school. Ironically, as Harry describes Hermione to Slughorn in an earlier encounter as "the best in our year", she is outperformed by Harry in Potions due to the fact that he has access to the Half-Blood Prince's old textbook. Throughout the book, she becomes increasingly bitter at Harry's overnight success at Potions, especially since she comes to believe that the Half-Blood Prince is a shady character and she considers Harry academically dishonest for using the book. For the second time in their lives, Ron and Hermione have a serious falling out. Their relationship had been progressing with Hermione asking Ron to Slughorn's Christmas party but after hearing from Ginny that Hermione snogged Krum, he is hurt and jealous and eventually begins dating (and unabashedly kissing) Lavender Brown, leaving Hermione heart-broken and distraught. Determined to get even, Hermione takes Cormac McLaggen to the Christmas party instead of Ron just to annoy him, but it doesn't go well; the egomaniacal McLaggen quickly proves to be more than Hermione can stand and she spends the rest of the night hiding from him. During this time, it becomes clear that Hermione and Luna, while still complete opposites in many ways, have come to some sort of mutual acceptance of each other, as Luna at one point comforts Hermione after Ron had been rude to her. After the holidays, Hermione continues to ignore Ron, but when he is poisoned, she is fearfully upset and quietly reconciles with him. Lavender breaks up with Ron when she sees him and Hermione walking down the stairs alone (they are actually accompanied by Harry but he is in his Invisibility Cloak) from the boys' dormitory a few weeks later. Hermione is visibly delighted with Ron's break-up, as is Ron himself. Near the end of the book, at Harry's request, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny, Neville and Luna (the only members of Dumbledore's Army who responded) are sent to patrol Hogwarts – specifically, to monitor Snape and Malfoy. Their efforts half pay off in that they are able to alert the members of the Order who are also on patrol but they still fail to prevent Dumbledore's fall. They themselves just barely survive, thanks to the Felix Felicis that Harry had given them. At the end of the book, Hermione and Ron tell Harry that they will stick with him wherever he goes, even if it means leaving Hogwarts.
