The Best Hermione Scenes From Every Harry Potter Book Arabella Stranton Must Deliver, Ranked

When casual moviegoers think of Hermione Granger, they often imagine the clever girl who always had the right answer, the homework finished early, and her hand raised high in every class. But to readers of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, Hermione was never just the “smart one.” She was fierce, bold, and unafraid to push boundaries when it mattered most. 

Whether it was about standing up to her friends when they were wrong, or taking on enemies twice her size, Hermione proved time and again that brains and bravery go hand in hand. That’s why HBOʼs upcoming Harry Potter reboot feels like the perfect moment to finally show all sides of this brilliant witch. 

Considering how Arabella Stranton has become the new face of the character for the HBO reboot, it’s time for her to not only take on the exciting job of playing the brainy witch but also to portray other sides of Hermione, apart from being just a bookworm. So, here’s a list of iconic Hermione moments from the books that Stranton must deliver. 

7. Research About the Hogwarts Founders 

One of Hermione’s underrated strengths is her ability to quickly piece together ancient history and apply it to present-day problems. And this skill first came to light in Chamber of Secrets, when the school was in a dire situation, under attack, while students were being petrified. 

That’s when Hermione took it upon herself to research the history of the Chamber and the Hogwarts Founders. While Harry and Ron were busy guessing and running around, Hermione was in the library connecting the dots. She was the one who dug into the legend of Salazar Slytherin. 

Soon, she learned about the rift between the founders and the rumor of the hidden monster. Most importantly, Hermione discovered what the monster was: a basilisk. She figured out its deadly stare, how it moved through the pipes, and why the victims weren’t killed but petrified. She figured it all out. 

Although she was later petrified before she could tell Harry and Ron, her research literally saved Hogwarts and other students. The note she clutched in her petrified state was the missing clue Harry needed to put everything together. So, this scene in the book highlighted Hermione’s true role, even though the film skipped it. 

The table contains details of Hermione’s best moment from the Harry Potter books:

In the film, this detail was toned down, making Harry appear to solve more of the mystery. But in the books, it was Hermione’s brilliant research that cracked the case. So now, the HBO reboot must do justice to this moment, showing Arabella Stranton’s Hermione as the brain behind the solution.

6. Helps Hagrid with Buckbeak’s Case

Despite the movies’ focus on Hermione’s brainy side, the franchise once again skipped an indispensable part of Hermione, from Prisoner of Azkaban. This book focused on not just Hermione’s intellect, but also her compassion. When Hagrid’s hippogriff, Buckbeak, was sentenced to death for attacking Draco Malfoy, most students backed away, afraid of trouble. 

But Hermione stood by Hagrid. She spent hours researching magical law, going through case files, and trying to figure out ways in which they could save Buckbeak. Yes, she was accompanied by Harry and Ron, who also helped her, but it was Hermione’s empathy that drove her to such an extent. 

Plus, this wasn’t just bookish curiosity; it was a practical way of fighting injustice. So, instead of settling for crying or complaining, Hermione used her intellect as a weapon, diving into legal documents when no one else bothered. And though the appeal doesn’t succeed, her efforts showed both Hagrid and readers just how fiercely loyal she was.

This arc also gave us one of Hermione’s most human moments. Overwhelmed by the stress of exams, the time-turner, and her fight for justice, she slapped Draco Malfoy across the face. After all, he was the reason for her added stress with Buckbeak. Sadly, while the slap made it into the films, her bigger story about trying to save Buckbeak was downplayed. 

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Now, the HBO series should spotlight her determination and sleepless nights in the library, showing that Hermione wasn’t just a fighter in duels, but also in courtrooms and classrooms. For Arabella Stranton, this storyline would be a chance to show Hermione’s mix of intellect, empathy, and temper. 

5. Leaves Hats and Socks for Elves

To date, one of the quirkiest yet bravest things Hermione ever did was start S.P.E.W., the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare in Goblet of Fire. While her friends dismissed it as silly, Hermione never stopped caring about the rights of house-elves. This arc continued in Half-Blood Prince. 

Therein, she secretly knitted hats and socks, leaving them around Gryffindor Tower in hopes of tricking elves into freeing themselves. It’s both funny and touching. Meanwhile, although her plan backfired, since the elves caught on and avoided cleaning the tower, it showed Hermione’s moral compass. 

Even when no one else agreed with her, she stood firm, because to her, freedom wasn’t something to joke about. The films completely ignored S.P.E.W., robbing Hermione of one of her most defining qualities: her willingness to fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. As for fans, we know how this subplot was proof of her activism. 

The table contains details of Hermione’s best moment from the Harry Potter books:

So now, in the HBO reboot, Arabella Stranton must shine in these moments, showing Hermione’s softer side, her stubbornness, and even her awkward failures. It would add depth to her character, proving that while she wasn’t always perfect, she cared more than anyone else. After all, S.P.E.W. was Hermione at her best: idealistic, relentless, and compassionate. 

4. Captures Rita Skeeter as an Animagus

Hermione’s war against Rita Skeeter was easily one of her savagest moments. In Goblet of Fire, Rita spread vile gossip about Hermione, painting her as Harry’s manipulative girlfriend and inventing a fake love triangle with Viktor Krum. That’s when, instead of sulking, Hermione fought back in the most cunning way possible.

After investing her time trying to figure out how Rita Skeeter sourced her information, Hermione figured out that Rita was an unregistered Animagus who transformed into a beetle to spy on private conversations. That’s when, using her brains and boldness, Hermione trapped Rita in a magically sealed jar, keeping her animagus prisoner for weeks.

Yep, Hermione literally blackmailed Rita into silence, forcing her to stop spreading lies and eventually coercing her into writing the truth about Voldemort’s return in Order of the Phoenix. And sadly, this subplot was completely cut from the movies, which robbed fans of seeing Hermione’s darker, more strategic side.

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The films made her seem like the voice of reason, but the books showed she wasn’t above bending the rules to crush an enemy. So now, the HBO reboot has to give this arc the justice it deserves, with Arabella Stranton in the role of Hermione. The show must portray how Hermione took down a powerful adult journalist through sheer wit. 

3. Duels Fiercely During the Battle

Deathly Hallows: Part 2 battle has to be the worst portrayal of Hermione in the Harry Potter franchise. In the book, when the Battle of Hogwarts erupted, Hermione proved that she was not just a strategist, she was also a fighter. But sadly, the last movie portrayed her as a sentimental friend who wanted to accompany Harry and failed to kill Nagini. 

However, in the book, Hermione was right there on the front lines, dueling Death Eaters with incredible skill. From casting defensive spells to stunning curses, she matched dark wizards blow for blow. She fought alongside Harry and Ron without hesitation, protecting students and standing her ground against enemies far more experienced. 

Later on, she even accompanied Luna and Ginny in their fight against Bellatrix. And what made these moments powerful is that Hermione had never been a “natural” duelist like Harry. Her strength came from knowledge, preparation, and sheer determination. Plus, one of her best moves in the books was using a well-timed curse on Fenrir Greyback, saving lives in the chaos. 

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She also shielded others in the middle of battle, showing that her magic wasn’t just about attack but also about protecting those who can’t defend themselves. But the film rushed through much of her dueling, focusing more on Harry’s final showdown. But fans know Hermione’s bravery in this battle was crucial. 

So now, the HBO reboot must finally highlight this. Arabella Stranton should get her chance to show Hermione not only as the genius planner but as a warrior who refused to stand back. 

2. Solves Severus Snape’s Riddle

Well, everyone remembers the troll in the girls’ bathroom, the Devil’s Snare, and the giant chessboard from Sorcerer’s Stone. But one of Hermione’s most underrated heroic moments came when she solved  Severus Snape’s potion riddle guarding the Philosopher’s Stone. And she was only 11 back then. 

Unlike the other obstacles, which required strength or bravery, this challenge was pure logic. A series of bottles sat in front of a wall of fire, some poisonous, one would let you go forward, and another would let you go back. Harry, brilliant in his own way, admitted that he would have been stuck forever. 

But Hermione calmly worked it out, proving that logic can be just as powerful as magic. This moment was criminally omitted from the film, which instead skipped straight to Harry’s confrontation with Quirrell. But readers know how the book showed that Hermione wasn’t just a backup character; she was essential to the trio’s success. 

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So now, for the reboot, this puzzle scene is non-negotiable. Watching Arabella Stranton’s Hermione solve a deadly riddle under pressure would finally give the character the credit she deserves. It will also set the tone for her role in the series: the one who uses intellect where bravery and luck fall short.

1. Creates Enchanted Fake Galleons

This one remains the best and most underrated Hermione Granger scene from the Harry Potter novels. Because the character’s most genius contribution came in Order of the Phoenix, when she invented enchanted fake Galleons to help Dumbledore’s Army communicate. Yep, by then she had started breaking the rules for the right cause. 

By using the advanced Protean Charm, she made those fake Galleons so that when Harry changed the date and time on his master coin, every DA member’s coin would get automatically updated. Not just that, she even made the coins warm up slightly to signal the change in date and time, as a form of notification. 

This was incredibly advanced magic, something even N.E.W.T.-level students struggled with. But Hermione mastered it as a teenager, proving just how exceptional she was. The brilliance of the idea is that it wasn’t flashy but effective. It kept the DA safe from Umbridge’s spying and made their resistance possible.

The films skipped this entirely, robbing fans of one of Hermione’s best inventions. Worse, it made it seem like Harry alone organized the DA, when in reality, Hermione’s magical innovation made the group function. Plus, Neville later used his DA coin in Deathly Hallows to summon members back to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts. 

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Even after the war, DA members kept their coins as reminders of their courage and unity. So, the HBO reboot must deliver this goosebump moment onscreen with Arabella Stranton’s Hermione crafting the enchanted coins, proving that she’s not just a sidekick, but a true leader and innovator.

Let us know which Hermione Granger moment from the book is your favorite. 

Harry Potter films are currently streaming in the US on HBO Max.