Throughout the Harry Potter franchise, Hermione Granger constantly proved that she was a more than capable witch, even from the very first film. She often saved her friends with her quick thinking, and always acted admirably in the face of danger.
Whilst her capability was generally exhibited through her undeniable intelligence, Hermione was a brilliant witch in many ways, shown also through her immense bravery and loyalty to her friends. Along the way, she offered many powerful quotes that proved this, ones that fans still admire to this day.
When She Knew What Was Important
"Me? Books And Cleverness! There Are More Important Things - Friendship And Bravery."
Hermione was the most intelligent student in Harry's year, but she still didn't let that fact go to her head or mar the importance of other things. Hermione said this quote in The Sorcerer's Stone after Harry admitted that he didn't think he was as good a wizard as Hermione.
Hermione's words were a gentle acceptance that she was clever, but that there were also many others things to be celebrated other than one's intelligence. This quote showed that, even though Hermione was sure of her abilities, she still valued things like friendship and bravery more. She not only put Harry's mind at ease but also showed her wisdom from a very young age.
When She Rightfully Called Harry Out
"I've Always Admired Your Courage Harry, But Sometimes You Can Be Really Thick..."
Hermione was a great friend to Harry, as she always supported him and looked out for him endlessly. Yet, like any great friend (and witch), that sometimes meant she had to call him out for his behavior, which could sometimes be defeatist and alienating.
Hermione said this comical line to Harry at the end of The Half-Blood Prince, after Harry tried to tell Hermione and Ron that he was going to search for the Horcruxes alone. Whilst funny in nature, Hermione's words showed her awareness of his capabilities, whilst also proving that she could stand up to her friends when she thought they were wrong and be supportive in her own way.
When She Was Wise Beyond Her Years
"Fear Of The Name Only Increases Fear Of The Thing Itself."
A standout quote for fans, Hermione said this defiant line in The Chamber of Secrets and immediately proved herself to be a fearless witch, even at her young age. Because of the lingering fear of Voldemort at the time, it was preferred to not refer to him directly by name, and he was called "You-know-who" instead.
However, never one to back down, Hermione hit the nail on the head with this line and showed that she would not fall victim to the fear-mongering evoked by Voldemort's name. Perhaps without knowing it, Hermione's words were wise beyond her years and showed a spark of fierceness that made her a great witch.
When She Proved Her Loyalty To Harry
"If You're Going To Kill Harry, You'll Have To Kill Us Too."
Hermione was often perceived to be a shy and timid character, but by The Prisoner of Azkaban, she had really come into her own as a fearless and courageous witch. Hermione said this line when confronted with a believed to be murderer Sirius Black and heroically stood her ground.
This quote showed how much Hermione had grown in her short time at Hogwarts, and how she wouldn't let anyone hurt her friends, even if it entailed endangering herself. In order to be a good witch or wizard, one must be brave in the face of danger, and this was just one of the times that Hermione showed her fearlessness.
When She Had The Idea For Dumbledore's Army
"We've Got To Be Able To Defend Ourselves."
The idea to create Dumbledore's Army was Hermione's best decision in The Order of the Phoenix, as it prompted her and her friends to stand up for themselves and harness their abilities. The defiance in her words was a good reminder of Hermione's fierce personality and immense bravery.
When Harry appeared defeated in the face of Umbridge's new post at Hogwarts, Hermione reminded him of his own abilities and encouraged him to start Dumbledore's Army. Despite the fact she was fearful herself, Hermione was still there for her friends, and her boundless courage was one of the things that proved her status as one of the best witches in the entire franchise.
When She Repaired Harry's Glasses
"Are You Sure That's A Real Spell? Well, It's Not Very Good Is It? Of Course, I've Only Tried A Few Simple Ones Myself, But They've All Worked For Me. For Example, Oculus Reparo."
Hermione always seemed to be light years ahead of her classmates when it came to spell casting, and this instance was the first indication of her talent. Upon seeing Harry and Ron trying to cast spells in The Sorcerer's Stone, Hermione abruptly inserted herself into their conversation and demonstrated her skills effortlessly.
Not only do her words hint at the wide breadth of knowledge she had before even arriving at Hogwarts, but they also introduced her character perfectly as an intelligent witch who was sure of her capabilities with magic. Hermione fixed Harry's glasses without a second thought, leaving Ron and Harry astonished, and straight away proved just how much of a brilliant witch she was.
When She Left Behind Her Parents
"Obliviate."
Whilst this is undoubtedly one of the saddest things about Hermione, erasing her parent's memory to protect them was also one of the most admirable things she ever did. At the beginning of The Deathly Hallows, Hermione made the brave yet painful decision to cast the memory spell on her parents before she left home.
She knew that her parents would be at risk if they were to know where she was, or what she was doing, and her actions were completely selfless in her bid to keep them safe from Voldemort. However sad this scene was, Hermione's casting of "Obliviate," proved that she would always do her best to protect others, even it was painful for her.
When She Saved Harry And Ron
"That's It! Devil's Snare Hates Sunlight! Lumos Salem!"
Throughout The Sorcerer's Stone, Hermione's intelligence and adept abilities with magic were apparent, despite it only being her first year at Hogwarts. After she, Ron, and Harry found themselves stuck in one of the many traps on their way to finding the infamous stone, Hermione remembered a useful lesson that had evaded her friends.
Immediately, Hermione cast the spell that would free them all from the Devil's Snare, saving them at the last minute. Despite being so young, Hermione proved from the very beginning that she was a force to be reckoned with, with her quick thinking and composure, even when presented with an imminent threat.
When She Showed Her Courage
"We Save Sirius."
Whilst her greatness as a witch was often put down to how smart she was, her courage and loyalty to her friends were also some of Hermione's best traits. In The Prisoner Of Azkaban, Hermione exhibited her courage many times, and this quote is just one of those instances.
After she and Harry went back in time to rescue Buckbeak, Hermione asserted to Harry that their next mission was to save Sirius. What made the quote even more courageous, is that when Harry asked how, Hermione responded "No idea," yet proceeded to succeed in their rescue mission anyway. Considering Hermione was usually meticulous with her planning, this moment showed that she was able to abandon her comforts and act quickly, cementing her as one of the best witches.
When She Corrected Harry
"Actually I'm Highly Logical, Which Allows Me To Look Past Extraneous Detail And Perceive Clearly That Which Others Overlook."
Hermione's observation of her own abilities summed up just how brilliant she was, even if she did have a tendency to shy away from compliments. Hermione said this line to Harry in The Deathly Hallows, after Harry marveled at her intelligence, and called her "brilliant."
In true Hermione fashion, rather than accept the compliment for what it was, she elected instead to correct Harry by pointing out that she was merely an expert in logic. Her perception of her own abilities may have slightly undermined just how much of a brilliant witch she was, but it nonetheless gave a clear definition of her intelligence and was one of the few times that Hermione admitted to her greatness.