Although the main character of the Harry Potter series of books and movies is Harry Potter himself, most fans know that Harry would not have been able to conquer Voldemort without the help of his friends. One friend who proved invaluable was Hermione Granger, who was easily one of the smartest Hogwarts students of her time. Hermione not only helped Harry stay motivated and on task, but she was also the brains of the trio that included her, Harry and Ron, meaning that it was often Hermione who figured out puzzles, discovered the enemy's secrets, and learned spells that would help her friends out.
Hermione excelled in nearly every class at Hogwarts and spent one year actually taking on more courses than other students, thanks to a Time-Turner loaned to her by Professor McGonagall. She was studious to a fault and feared failure in her education over anything else. Hermione was also exceedingly brave, and fought in several battles during her time at school. In the end, she was a vital component in defending Hogwarts from Voldemort, as well as helping Harry defeat his evil army for good.
Hermione Granger accomplished so much more than this during her time in school. Although she had a lot going on with Harry and Ron and fighting the evil of Voldemort, she still made time to make a name for herself at Hogwarts. Hermione is the very definition of an overachiever, after all.
Here are 20 Things Only True Potterheads Know Hermione Did At Hogwarts.
She was the only one of the trio to get her N.E.W.T.s
Although Hermione dropped out of Hogwarts with Harry and Ron during their final year, she was the only one of the trio to return to the school to finish her education. After the Battle of Hogwarts, Hermione went back to Hogwarts because her education was still important to her. There, she completed her N.E.W.T. exams, or the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test, which helps wizards determine what careers they qualify for in the wizarding community.
For example, only those with five N.E.W.T.s with top grades of either "Outstanding" or "Exceeds Expectations" get jobs as Aurors with the Ministry of Magic. Hermione was eventually elected as Minister for Magic.
She struggled at flying
Hermione was excellent at nearly everything she tackled, especially her classes at Hogwarts. It seemed that she had a knack, not just for learning, but for picking up on things especially fast. However, she didn't exactly get the hang of flying so quickly.
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling wrote: "Hermione Granger’s had simply rolled over on the ground and Neville’s hadn’t moved at all. Perhaps brooms, like horses, could tell when you were afraid, thought Harry." Who would have known that Hermione was not naturally gifted at everything? Flying proved a challenge, as did Divination, although Hermione's prejudices against the art of divination probably held her back the most.
She almost got sorted into Ravenclaw
When it comes to figuring out where someone belongs at Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat is the indisputable expert. However, the Sorting Hat sometimes gets a mixed vibe from a young witch or wizard about what house they should go to. This was the case with Harry, who almost ended up in Slytherin, but pleaded with the Hat to choose Gryffindor for him, which it did.
For Hermione, it seems like she was a virtual shoo-in for Ravenclaw, being that this was the house with all the students most dedicated to knowledge and learning. The Hat did consider that for some time before finally putting her in Gryffindor. But it turns out, the Hat was right, because Hermione did much for her house while she was there.
She started SPEW
During her fourth year at Hogwarts, Hermione learned about the plight of the house-elves, creature who were essentially enslaved to the witches and wizards of the world. Hermione was appalled by the treatment of these creatures and decided to step up and do something about it. She formed the organization called the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (or as Ron called it, "SPEW") and started gathering support to free all the elves currently in the service of Hogwarts.
Hermione continued her crusade throughout the year, and by the time she graduated and was a member of the Ministry of Magic, she had championed for the rights of house elves all over the wizarding world.
She trapped Rita Skeeter as a beetle
Rita Skeeter was a "journalist" who spent a lot of time writing sensationalist pieces about Harry for the Daily Prophet, especially after he was chosen for the Triwizard Tournament. Rita seemed to have a way of getting information that she should not have access to. Hermione eventually discovered her secret, though: the journalist was an unregistered animagus.
Once Hermione discovered this, she captured Rita in beetle form and put her in a jar, keeping her there until Rita promised not to write anything for a whole year. Rita agreed, not really having a choice. This put a serious hamper on Rita's career and taught her a valuable lesson in the process: don't cross Hermione Granger.
She jinxed the coins for Dumbledore’s Army
During Hermione's fifth year at Hogwarts, it was evident that Voldemort's influence was beginning to spread. This sent the wizarding world into chaos, with the Ministry of Magic still in denial that Voldemort was really back. The Ministry sent the awful Dolores Umbridge to Hogwarts to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Hermione decided that Professor Umbridge was too incompetent to teach them what they needed to know, so she helped Harry form Dumbledore's Army. Then she enchanted coins with a difficult spell for those students to use as a means of communication. She also jinxed the list of students so that if anyone told on them, they would break out in a rash.
She invented several spells
Because Hermione was so incredibly intelligent, she often went beyond her studies at Hogwarts and learned to create her own spells. When Dumbledore's Army formed, she created a unique jinx that she cast on the parchment that members of the group signed. That jinx would out any member who told an adult about their activities by making them break out in boils that spelled the word "sneak," which is precisely what happened when Marietta Edgecombe told the Ministry about their secret organization.
Hermione was so good at spells that she often used those meant for older students, but she also got to the point where she didn't even need a wand to cast a spell.
She tutored Neville Longbottom
Although Hermione often received accusations from her classmates of being "know it all," she did what she could to help other students struggling with their studies. One of those other students was Neville Longbottom, whom Hermione first met on the train to Hogwarts before her first year, when she helped him find his toad. The two became friends after that.
Although Neville was an excellent student in Herbology, he had problems with most of his other courses. Hermione helped and tutored him with his classes whenever she could, especially with Potions, which proved to be Neville's weakest subject. She also often defended Neville against other students who liked to taunt him and make fun of him.
She taught Harry useful spells for the Triwizard Tournament
Hermione's fourth year at Hogwarts proved a challenging one as Harry got chosen for the Triwizard Tournament, although he shouldn't have been eligible for the competitoin. Not only did Hermione believe Harry when he told his friends that he didn't put his name in the cup that chose him, but she also helped him prepare for the event by teaching him many spells he needed to know to complete each challenge.
Some of those spells included Stupefy, Impedimenta, and Accio, all of which came in handy for Harry later on. Hermione did this even though she was dating one of Harry's Triwizard Tournament competitors at the time.
She was a prefect for Gryffindor
Hogwarts students who are most trusted by faculty often become prefects for their respective houses. This means that they take on the added responsibility of making sure that their house maintains discipline and order. Each house has two prefects who answer to a Head Boy or Head Girl. They also receive special privileges, which include a separate car on the Hogwarts Express, as well as a private bathroom at the school.
Becoming a prefect is a high honor. In her fifth year, Hermione and Ron became prefects for Gryffindor in their fifth year. Hermione took her duties very seriously, as she was always a well-disciplined student-- at least until Professor Umbridge arrived.
She was brave enough to call Voldemort by his name
Most of the wizarding world feared Voldemort so much that they dared not even speak his name, as if somehow saying it would summon him-- even before he returned to wreak havoc upon the world. Instead, when speaking about him, he was mostly referred to as "You Know Who," "He Who Must Not Be Named" or "the Dark Lord."
Hermione refused to give into the fear and often used his "real" name, referring to him as Voldemort. Although that made many other witches and wizards flinch, Hermione understood the necessity of being brave in the face of a monster who used fear to control others.
She lured Professor Umbridge into the Forbidden Forest
Hermione immediately knew something was up at Hogwarts when Professor Umbridge arrived: it was Hermione who first figured out that Umbridge was the Ministry of Magic's way of imposing its will upon Dumbledore and Hogwarts. Umbridge proved a wicked figure: although she had a "sweet" appearance, she was anything but and spent a lot of time tormenting students. Umbridge even once threatened Harry with the Cruciatus Curse.
Hermione eventually lured the professor in pink into the Forbidden Forest, where Umbridge got carried off by a group of centaurs. Although this angered the centaurs, Hermione took care of the Umbridge problem in a surprisingly cold-blooded manner.
She obtained 10 O.W.L.s
Hermione was not just one of the smartest students in her Hogwarts class. When it came time to take the O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level) tests, she also excelled. The O.W.L. tests happen during a student's fifth year at Hogwarts, testing witches and wizards on everything they have learned up to that point. The grades on these tests are important as they determine whether a student can continue to take those subjects in future years at the school. They're also important for achieving career goals after graduation.
Hermione obtained 10 O.W.L.s, receiving "Outstanding" marks in all but Defense Against the Dark Arts, which she received an "Exceeds Expectations" on. Hermione was notably upset about that grade.
She was the first in her class to master nonverbal magic
Learning nonverbal magic is one of the hardest things that a young witch or wizard can attempt. Those who succeed are able to cast a spell without having to say the incantation aloud. It's something that students aren't even taught until their sixth year and requires a great deal of practice and concentration. Harry even once compared students attempting nonverbal magic to looking like they had consumed too much U-No-Poo.
However, Hermione quickly latched onto nonverbal magic and became the first in her class at Hogwarts to do so. She first mastered a nonverbal shield charm, but promptly began using nonverbal magic in all her classes, including Charms, Potions, Defense Against The Dark Arts, and Transfiguration.
She convinced Rita Skeeter to interview Harry for The Quibbler
After Hermione trapped Rita Skeeter in beetle form after discovering the journalist was an unregistered animagus, Skeeter had to promise not to write anything for a year. Rita, along with the paper she wrote for the Daily Prophet, had spent a lot of time smearing Harry's name and making light of the return of Voldemort, basically calling Harry a liar.
However, Hermione went back to Rita and demanded that she eventually write a new article; one that would allow Harry to tell his side of the story. Rita wrote this for The Quibbler, the newspaper edited by Luna Lovegood's father. It was one of the most-read articles in the newspaper's history.
She was the only student to ask Professor Binns a question
Hermione was probably the only student her year who had a real interest in the History of Magic. Most students found Professor Binns, the course's teacher, incredibly dull, meaning that they never really paid much attention. He also had a bad habit of calling everyone by the wrong name.
Even before she ever attended Hogwarts, though, Hermione had read several books on the subject, including Hogwarts: A History. She often quoted lines from that book. She was also the only student ever to ask Professor Binns a question, after she couldn't find any details about the Chamber of Secrets during her second year at Hogwarts. At that point, the entire class sat at attention, finally interested in what he had to say.
She figured out Professor Lupin was a werewolf
By Hermione's third year at Hogwarts, she was easily one of the best students to ever attend the school. She was also incredibly observant. When Professor Lupin took over the Defense Against The Dark Arts class, it was Hermione who quickly figured out that their new teacher was, in fact, a werewolf. She looked at all the facts and just reasoned it out.
Hermione noticed that his boggart was a full moon, meaning that was the thing he feared most. She also made note of the time of the month when he was absent from class. Hermione didn't say anything because she liked Lupin and believed him to be a good person.
She figured out there was a the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets
During her second year, Hermione was the first of the students to discover the Chamber of Secrets. She eventually figured out that Harry was a Parselmouth, so she deduced that because he heard the voices in the walls, that meant that the creature roaming around Hogwarts was, in fact, a basilisk.
After questioning Professor Binns, Hermione conducted further research in the library and then warned another student, Penelope Clearwater, to look around corners with a mirror while walking around the school. This saved both girls' lives, although seeing the basilisk through the mirror petrified them, and helped Harry and Ron save the day.
Her boggart looked like Professor McGonagall
A boggart is a shape-shifting creature that, when discovered, will take the shape of the worst thing that the person looking upon it fears. Hogwarts students learned all about boggarts in their third year, when Professor Lupin introduced them to the concept and taught them the Riddikulus spell, which turns the boggart into something funny because it is laughter that defeats them and ultimately banishes them.
When Hermione had to face a boggart, it took the shape of Professor McGonagall who told her that she had failed everything. This illuminated Hermione's greatest fear: failure, which makes sense given her overachieving nature. Although Hermione seemed confident most of the time, deep down, she had insecurities about herself.
She conjured Bluebell Flames to free Ron from Devil's Snare
Even during Hermione's first year at Hogwarts, she was skilled with spells, having learned them before she ever attended wizarding school. This is quite an achievement for someone with Muggle parents. When she, Ron, and Harry went in search for the Sorcerer's Stone deep within the bowels of Hogwarts, they ended up getting entangled in Devil's Snare, a magical plant that will strangle anything that touches it. Struggling or trying to escape only makes the branches tighter.
Knowing that Devil's Snare doesn't like fire, Hermione cast the Bluebell Flames, which creates a magical blue fire that emits from a wand. The Devil's Snare loosened its grip, which allowed the trio to escape from its stranglehold.
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