NAME: Hermione Jane Granger
AGE: Sixteen
HOUSE/YEAR: Gryffindor, Twelfth
SOCIAL STATUS: Very middle class. Despite the fact that both her parents are professionals, the generation before them belonged distinctly to the working class. They have neither name, nor family money and understand the value of a pound and the importance of hard work. Despite being comfortable, as their income bracket does afford them a few luxuries, they're also extremely pragmatic and have passed this mentality on to their only daughter.
APPEARANCE: Never having been known as a beauty, though she was thought around her neighbourhood as a very endearing sort of girl, Hermione has a surprisingly soft face that is neither exceptional nor forgettable. Tawny and brown, with a generally warm, flushed glow brushed over her cheeks, she tends to always look slightly frazzled, or as if she's just come in from a jog. Her eyes are a dark, dark brown, which might be considered black were she a harsher person. Her hair, however, which can only be described as thick, bushy and untameable, has honey, naturally lightened gold streaks throughout it, which offsets the deep chocolate of her eyes. Having grown up with prominent teeth, Hermione still tends to smile with her mouth shut despite Ginny's unsubtle attempts to get her to kick the habit. Faint lines crease her forehead due to the fact that she seems to be in a perpetual state of concentration; but when the girl does decide to smile, it's the sort that makes one immediately warm to her.
It can be said that Hermione has improved leaps and bounds over the years, appearance wise, and the progression is only natural considering who she shares a dormitory with. Still, she prefers simplicity over extravegance and, having so much on her mind, doesn't care much for clothes and the like. Thick, wooly sweaters and cords in browns and tans make up much of her wardrobe. She's very much a tee shirt and jeans sort of girl, preferring colours only on top and never venturing into the audacious unknown. At a formidable 5'2, Hermione is easily the shortest in her circle of friends and seems a dwarf when standing next to Ron. Though she is petite, she's never been an overly thin girl, having hips and a bust and some flesh to spare, especially about her stomach and arms. Not one for excersise and sport, her slender figure can only be attributed to a very strict nutritious diet and she is concious of her weight and keeps close tabs on what she puts in her mouth. Not an advocate for the stick-bug look, she still feels it's absolutely important to maintain a healthy figure and a fairly substantially low weight.
PLAYED BY: Emma Watson
PERSONALITY: Hermione has always been known to those around her as a sort of old soul. Growing up in the historically abundant Winchester, she was very rarely around children her own age, a devastating recipe for social ineptitude. Since the age of four, Hermione has sounded like an adult, accustomed to the conversation of her parents and their friends – all professionals, many dentists – and has made up for her lack of social graces through her books and learning. Having stuck out as a sore thumb in primary school, she took reprieve in the stories her father supplied her with and gained confidence in always having the answer. However, being a know-it-all only made the children she schooled with ever more resentful of the bushy-haired girl and, in response, Hermione grew up with the appearances of someone rather stand-offish, even snotty. Though through her experience at Hogwarts, this perception has gradually begun to cease, it persists with many her age, who perceive her as someone who is too smart for her own good.
Over the years, many have voiced their surprise at Hermione Granger's being sorted into Gryffindor over Ravenclaw; the easy categorization of her as a 'brain' has always been both a blessing and a curse, a compliment and an insult, for there is much more to Hermione Granger than her ability to memorize facts and work out complicated arithmancy problems. Deeply sensitive and emotionally intuitive, Hermione has always been concerned for the well being of others and has shown a compassionate, humanitarian streak from an early age. While with her friends she often displays impatience, and has been called on more than one occasion a know-it-all, her frustration only stems from the sense that someone is underselling themselves. She truly believes that those she cares for are some of the most valuable the world over and can frequently be heard lecturing Ron on why he ought to apply himself. Her willingness to assist others and her patience were tested on more than one occasion during her duties as Prefect; she has a surprisingly natural ability to teach, though she has been known to get short with her friends. It is this emotional intelligence and need to bring people up that lends her so well to her philanthropy work.
To say Hermione is bookish would be both an egregious understatement and blatantly obvious one, too. Unfairly, many people assume she’s only got book smarts going for her – that without the aide of texts, much of her knowledge would vanish. The truth is, Hermione has a rather active imagination and a clever, cutting mind, which happens to be very perceptive: she’s magnificent at reading people and at problem-solving, being able to read between the lines and see things where others cannot. However, underneath Hermione's knowledgeable exterior, she hides many insecurities and always feels as though she isn't worthy of the praise she receives. Her perfectionist tendancies stem from her need to prove her worth, especially to her parents, and to feel accepted and loved. While she is generally quite sensitive to the feelings of others, sometimes she is unaware of how her actions and words can effect others, and if she isn't thinking she can come off as blunt and harsh. Despite being patient at times, there are moments when she snaps if someone cannot understand a concept she's explaining; these times are generally when she is lacking sleep. Hermione’s a decided dreamer, with large plans for the future who keeps herself from floating off the ground by her pragmatic, practical side. Not one to worry about getting her hands dirty, Hermione is determined and resolute in succeeding, no matter what the task is. Above all else, she is a fighter. A fierce one, at that.
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS: Most people would consider Hermione and say, undoubtedly, that her defining characteristic is her unrelenting intelligence. While it's true that she's one of the most clever girls of her age, what sets her apart from the stereotypical bookworm is an emotional intelligence to match her academic one. What Hermione can't see in herself due to a very bad bought of self conciousness, she consistently sees in others. Even those who most grate on her nerves can be seen, objectively, as having a very real potential. What frustrates Hermione more than anything is someone underselling themselves, not believing in their own skill set and abilities. Though this frustration often comes out in counter-productive ways, the intention behind them is, in fact, well placed. As she grows and matures, Hermione's ability to empower people will increasinly be what defines her as an individual: facts, history lessons and book smarts are all simply the means to an end.
LIKES: Reading, obsessing over homework, chastising Ronald, fighting for the free world, history preservation, skiing, mothering others, singing badly, driving, alphabetizing.
DISLIKES: Bigotry, materialism, burnt popcorn, chapped lips, snakes and lizards, not being prepared.
INSIDE SCOOP: 1) Hermione is extremely self-concious and makes up for it through her intellectual merits. Despite having a timid interest in 'girlie things' -- clothes, make-up, fashion -- she's somewhat conditioned herself to believe she isn't pretty enough, so why bother? Her greatest fear in life is someone discovering she's not, in fact smart. She constantly believes someone is going to discover there's been some horrible mistake and all her outstanding grades have in fact been a computer error. 2) Though she doesn't seem able (or willing) to admit it, Hermione is more than a little bit over-the-moon for one Ronald Weasley. It comes out, generally, in bursts of frustration but the sentiment is there all the same. Unfortunately, she doesn't do a very formidable job of dealing with said feelings and they have a tendancy to get her into a fair share of squabbles with her lankier friend. 3) Despite a confident exterior and excellent grades, not to mention a ridiculously overloaded timetable, Hermione has a deep, dark secret: she has absolutely no idea what she's going to do after school and the choices are becoming overwhelming. Her keen interest in social policy, especially in tandum with the rights of children, have often led her to believe humanitarian work and government advocacy is the way to go. However, the medical field seems so inviting, not to mention the paramount pressure from her parents to enter into such a profession. Were she to go into law, there's the hopes of doing International Human Rights cases and teaching -- well, the problem becomes clear quickly.
HISTORY: It most likely wouldn't come as a surprise that Hermione Granger's parents married and had their only daughter later in life; as many couples who find happiness and children as they're getting on in years, they have a tendency to hold Hermione up as something of a miracle child, one whose intelligence is proof of their superior child-rearing skills. When Richard Granger met Denise Clement in the summer of 1977, he already had one failed marriage under his belt. A professional man who was well-respected in the field of Dentistry, the last thing he expected was to find love at the annual British Dentist's Convention in which he would be a key speaker -- but that's exactly what he found. Young and focused, though not particularly striking, Denise was two years his junior but every bit his intellectual match. Approaching him with a confidence that immediately drew his attention, her admiration for his work turned into a courtship which would last a year and, eventually, a deep-seated mutual respect. Deciding that there was no time like the present, Denise and Richard were married within the year and settled comfortably into a lifestyle of dinners with friends, tennis matches, and companionship. To their friends, they seemed the ideal couple, happy in one anothers company and never passionate enough in their emotions to quarrel and argue; to all that knew them, it seemed that Denise and Richard would lead a quiet life or normalcy with the freedom to travel the world and do all those things which many people cannot due to various constraints. Their proverbial star was on the rise.
But what was at first imagined to be a bit of food poisoning after a dinner out with Dierdre and William Barnes turned into a week of morning sickness and the surprise that neither Denise nor Richard had been prepared for: for the first time, the nearly forty-year-old couple would be proud parents. Excited but pragmatic, Denise took a very sensible approach to her pregnancy and decided that after her third month it would be best for her baby if she took time off work. It was during this period which she devoured every piece of literature imaginable on the raising and rearing of a child; with lofty ambitions and the steadfast belief that their son or daughter would be the picture of success, the pair got busy drawing up plans for making life as comfortably challenging for their baby as they possibly could. The nursery resembled a library in its vast quantity of books, and next to the crib they'd purchased all of the latest educational toys which would ensure the child got the right idea from the get-go. However, as is often the case, babies tend to have their own plans and on the morning of September 19, 1981, Hermione Jane Granger burst into the world somewhat unexpectedly, and almost an entire month prematurely. Plans and plots went entirely out the window when the Granger's laid eyes on the tiny baby girl; immediately smitten, they were assured by the doctors promises that despite the early nature of the arrival, Hermione (unusual name, that) would be perfectly healthy, now and for years to come. Richard in particular was taken with the tiny pink bundle, and immediately set home in order to build his daughter a beautiful tree house in the family's large backyard.
Upon her arrival home, it became clear that Hermione was the proverbial apple of her parents' eyes. With four doting grandparents who had very nearly reserved themselves to a life without grandchildren, there was never a want of helping hands. All very proud of this tiny, squirming achievement, it didn't take long for them to begin undertaking the advancement of her education. A notably fast learner, she was walking and talking months before her peers, fueling her parents belief that Hermione Jane Granger was something special -- needless to say, they couldn't have imagined just how right they were. Having mastered speech and motor skills, Hermione was generally fairly independent and content, but often craved touch. Though she could get around easily enough on her own, she was the sort of child who constantly pulled at her parents trousers in an effort to be held. She was never more happy then when she was on some one's lap, being read to. Perhaps it was the inevitability of her environment, perhaps it was natural; whatever it was, Hermione's love of books and all things literary presented itself early on. Though her mother was back at work and Hermione's days were spent in the alternate care of her grandparents, Denise was strict about her schedule and dedicated much of her free time to Hermione's education: healthy living, healthy learning, healthy growing. That was her motto. By three she spent an hour daily working on her printing and by four she could read picture books with a fluency almost unheard of. So far as her parents were concerned, Hermione was everything that a child should be.
Despite her parents good intentions and a genuine love for their daughter, Hermione's childhood was notably lonely. She often felt isolated, having only her grandparents and stuffed toys as confidantes, and began to retreat inward. Her escape was the beautiful treehouse her father had constructed, which went above and beyond the call of duty. Decorated and outfitted with pillows and books and tiny, miniature furniture, it served as a world wholly separate from the one the little girl was used to. Most of the families with which the Grangers dined had children a good ten years older that little Hermione, leaving her with very few companions. Her books served as friends and her studies a reprieve and while grammar school ought to have changed all that, it only seemed to add insult to injury. Naturally bright, she worked diligently under the impression that knowing the answer might win over her classmates; having always been spoken to as an adult, by other adults, there was really no real way for Hermione to communicate and understand those her age, who, as kids do, ostracized her for being different. In many ways, Hermione exceeded them in years and maturity; in others, she was naive and had the sensitivity of someone half her age. Gaining the reputation of a know-it-all, most of her classmates would have nothing to do with her -- her bushy head of hair and glaringly large teeth didn't seem to help matters. And so her loneliness continued on, and she buried herself further and further in her studies. Her teachers, at least, saw her potential, and she was often a favourite. This propelled her to be more outspoken in class, but for obvious reasons made her evermore unpopular amongst her peers. For Hermione, she remembers this time as the worst and loneliest of her life.
In spite of this unhappy period, to say it was a total loss would not be telling the entire truth. While Hermione's days were dogged with typical bullying, her evenings began to take on a rather unusual turn. Her grandparents safely tucked away in the Granger home, Hermione finished her homework and retreated to the treehouse which had become something of a sanctuary, with all her favourite books coveted and hoarded in the shelves her father had built two summers before. Though Hermione's interest went beyond fiction (she greatly enjoyed reading biographies and histories, as well as the occasional foray into philosophical texts and literary criticism) it was those novels which imagined the impossible that became her favourite reprieve, and she immersed herself in the wonders of Barrie, Carroll, eventually Austen, whenever she had a moment. Her veracious taste for literature and her absolute thirst for knowledge in class lead her teachers to believe that their prized pupil would be better challenged in a more prestigious academic institution. It took her parents many a late evening, hushed conversation in order to make a desicion. On the one hand, they couldn't deny that her teachers had a valid point and were pleased as punch at the thought of such a clever daughter; on the other, the thought of sending their only child away for the year seemed more than a little extreme and verging on cruel. Hermione, being who she was, wouldn't hear of it however, and insisted that no such trauma would come to her if they sent her away. Ever the researcher, she had developed a complex pro/con list detailing all the schools in the United Kingdom and set her heart on Hogwarts. With all the facts before them, flow chart and all, there was no way of refusing her: the deal was sealed.
With a year of anticipatory excitement surrounding her departure, Hermione Granger didn't seem able to see the forest for the trees, and ignored the very real possibilities of homesickness and disappointment. Waving goodbye to her parents and grandparents, it wasn't until later that night that she would cry into her pillow for leaving the very safe cocoon of home. Busy attempting to win her peers over with her knowledge, she seemed to have forgotten the impression which this over-compensating left on her peers, and carved for herself the very niche she craved to leave behind. It was on this fateful train ride that she would meet the two men that would flip her world around, and shake Hermione to the very core of her being. The first month at Hogwarts was both very, very good and very, very bad. Insecure, she fretted over her ability to perform as the realities of blood politics caught her peripheral view. Hermione, however, had little to worry about in that department; not only was she book smart, and always ready with the answer to a myriad of questions the professor asked, but talented with her wand and proved herself more than capable of performing. However, none of this made up for the very real fact that her classmates didn't take a very quick liking to the bushy-haired muggleborn. Parvati and Lavender seemed to her an entirely different breed; the Slytherins took every opportunity to belittle and insult her; and Harry and Ron, worst of all, thought she was completely insufferable. For reasons unknown, she had wanted so very much for them to approve of her and was devastated when she heard Ronald Weasley moan about her in class. It felt, rather, like history repeating itself -- until the infamous incident in the bathroom changed everything, and Hermione won herself the leading role in a sage which would propel her to stardom.
Suffice to say, Hermione's academic star has been on the rise for the entirety of her time at Hogwarts, and she has been able, with time, to carve out for herself a home in the once-lonely walls of the Castle. In fact, despite some rather bumpy times and more than a few near-death experiences, Hermione has the warmest regards for Hogwarts, and often sheds a nostalgic tear when thinking of her school days. Her friendship with Ron and Harry, while not always comfortable, is the proverbial pillar which holds up her legacy; in Ginny, she found a confidante, an ally, and the occasional swift kick-in-the arse. While her relationship with Lavender and Parvati was never that of slumber parties and secret-sharing, the three did manage to find a way to live with one another, and on some level, perhaps, Hermione has warm regards for the two. Much of Hermione's years at Hogwarts were plagued with worrying: over academics, Prefect rounds, politics, her friends. It is the place she has had the most successes and failures, in love, and out of it. As much as she learned from books can be matched by the emotional intelligence she gained simply through the process of growing up; the experiences shared have meant the world to her, even in all the little moments of loss and tragedy.
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