Month of Awesome Women: Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

[such_heights]

All right, I am giving this meme a whirl! It will run from now until February 14th when halfamoon ends and we all need to go have a lie-down after too much awesome.

Let's begin proceedings with one of my longest-running fictional heroines.

"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good is it? I've tried a few simple spells myself and they've all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, it's the best school of witchcraft there is I've heard - I've learned all the course books by heart of course. I just hope it will be enough."

Hermione Granger

I'm kicking the month off with one of my all-time heroes. We first met when I was seven, and she's been with me ever since. When Hermione showed up a little way into Philosopher's Stone she was a know-it-all and didn't really know how to interact with her peers, a socially awkward and super-smart only child. I could relate to that.

She goes on this amazing journey throughout the books as she learns to express herself and finds out the ways that friends can bring out qualities she never knew she had. One of the things I'm always grateful to JKR for, however, is that Hermione never once downplays her intelligence, and she never ceases to be the smartest person in the room.

Even though she is subjected to a horrendous amount of crap at school for being who she is and daring to express herself, she takes up the causes of others fiercely even when it makes her unpopular or uncool. I don't think she even knows the meaning of half-hearted. She will bloody time-travel to study ALL THE THINGS, save the day even when she's in a coma, date a world-famous sports star, hold out under torture, make the ends justify the means in a slightly terrifying way, plan and execute a mission to destroy all seven Horcruxes, and keep Harry Potter alive for seven years, which is frankly no mean feat.

My hero, forever.

---

Rec: The Unusual, Exceptional, and Statistically Remarkable Hermione Granger, Age 21 (Hermione-centric gen, background Hermione/Pansy, PG, 3000 words) by magnetic_pole
Hermione assesses her life on the morning of her twenty-first birthday.

Comments

[liseuse]

Oh, I do so love Hermione. And you're right, she deserves so much credit for keeping Harry "daft as a brush" Potter alive for seven whole years.

Also, yay for the fic rec. I haven't read that in a while. *goes off to revel in the nostalgia*

[such_heights]

It's a seriously impressive accomplishment!

[the_future_modernes]

That is one awesome story. Thanks for the rec.

[the_future_modernes]

And having read the rest of your post I find myself agreeing wholeheartedly. Bravo Hermoine!

[musesfool]

♥

[pocky_slash]

Hermione ♥ ♥ ♥


I might have to steal this idea. I've been trying to come up with something to do for V-Day this year and my mind is rather blank, but this is awesome ♥

[such_heights]

You should totally do this! :D

[netgirl_y2k]

Perfect choice to kick off with, yes.

[fly_to_dawn]

This, this, this. ♥

[nixwilliams]

<3333333

[glass_icarus]

:3333333

[chaila]

Meme! Hermione! I especially what you say about her standing up for others even when it's uncool. It's like she doesn't even know it's uncool, because it never occurs to her to care. <3

One of the things I'm always grateful to JKR for, however, is that Hermione never once downplays her intelligence, and she never ceases to be the smartest person in the room.

Quoted for truth. It's SO rare, especially when she starts dating boys.

[such_heights]

Haha, yes - I think she's perceptive to be aware of how her actions are perceived, but she truly doesn't give a shit. It's amazing. :D

[miss_haitch]

I love how JKR never has her put herself down about her abilities! Hermione is made of wonderful.

[sophinisba]

So much yes to this!

[snorkackcatcher]

She goes on this amazing journey throughout the books as she learns to express herself and finds out the ways that friends can bring out qualities she never knew she had. One of the things I'm always grateful to JKR for, however, is that Hermione never once downplays her intelligence, and she never ceases to be the smartest person in the room.

This. I can relate to being the smart only child too, and I think she became my favourite character from the moment of the "friendship matters, not just books" speech in PS. It made a real change (from the sorts of stories I read as a kid) that the swotty character wasn't portrayed as being weak or suspect, and I love the way she develops into the woman we see in DH rather than into a sort of female version of Percy. (JKR comes across as someone with a great deal of sound common sense and practical understanding of psychology.) And as you say, a major plus point that the girl genius is shown this way.

[such_heights]

Absolutely, that's a great insight. I know JKR has said quite a few times that Hermione is the character most similar to her, and I'm glad, because it means she really lets her shine.

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

One of the things I'm always grateful to JKR for, however, is that Hermione never once downplays her intelligence, and she never ceases to be the smartest person in the room.

AMEN TO THAT! *huggles Hermione*