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Philosopher
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Hermione first appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and is 12
years old. She initially was portrayed as a "know-it-all", heartily disliked by
her future best friends.
In Charms class, she hears Ron Weasley mispronouncing a spell, Wingardium
Leviosa, and correctly pronounces it for him, though with just a slight change
in the final vowel sound. Ron doesn't believe she can do it herself, but she
accurately uses the charm to levitate a feather, abashing Ron and causing him to
feel resentment towards her.
Shortly after the charms class, when Ron makes a hurtful remark about Hermione
to Harry, she overhears him and tearfully retreats to a girls' bathroom. Later
that evening, while everyone is at the Halloween Feast, Professor Quirrell lets
a mountain troll into the school, which finds its way into the same bathroom.
Hermione is rescued by Harry and Ron. When they are discovered by Professors
Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape and Professor Quirrel, Hermione quickly lies
about why she was in the bathroom, claiming she had gone looking for the troll,
thinking she could defeat it herself. She thereby rescues Harry and Ron from
punishment and endears herself to them.
Though Hermione's attitude about rules and schoolwork remain largely intact, she
softens up a little bit after becoming friends with Harry and Ron. With them,
she helps solve the mystery surrounding the Philosopher's Stone. She also shows
her willingness to break the rules (and a streak of ruthlessness) when she casts
a Body-Bind Curse (an advanced spell for her level) on Neville Longbottom, who
bravely attempted to stop the trio from leaving the common room after hours
although she did apologise before and after cursing him.
Her intelligence again proves useful against the Devil's Snare (despite her
temporary loss of nerve), and her deep belief in the power of logic is
emphasised when she and Harry find themselves in a room where they must
correctly identify two potions from a range of bottles that will enable them to
pass out of the room. Hermione tells Harry that he is a great wizard as he has
the qualities of friendship and bravery which are more important than "books and
cleverness".
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