I Can't Stop Thinking About When Rowling Admitted She Wronged Hermione — And How Deathly Hallows Almost Set It Right

Every few years, that 2014 Wonderland chat about Hermione pops back up and stirs the pot again. And honestly, fair enough. It didn’t just poke at old ships; it reframed how Hermione’s whole arc reads, especially in Deathly Hallows.

The tent scene that almost went another way

J.K. Rowling has said she sometimes worried she didn’t do Hermione full justice, and at one point she even wondered whether Harry and Hermione could have worked romantically. That feeling hit her hard while writing Deathly Hallows — specifically, during the tent sequence. What makes this extra interesting: screenwriter Steve Kloves felt the exact same energy in that moment when he adapted it, without Rowling ever telling him about her hesitation. They both clocked the same vibe independently.

"The scene captured the ghost of what could have been."

That’s how Rowling later described it — a brief, clear alternate path that appeared for a second and then faded as the story flowed back to the relationships she’d planned all along.

Why Hermione and Ron stayed endgame, bumps and all

When the talk shifted to Ron and Hermione, Rowling’s explanation wasn’t gushy; it was practical. She called it a young relationship — real attraction, real friction, and issues that could get messy later if they don’t grow. Ron’s insecurity comes from spending years in someone else’s shadow. Hermione’s intensity can accidentally make that worse. Rowling even joked they might be fine with a little counseling. Translation: he needs to shore up his self-esteem; she could dial back the relentless critique.

Emma Watson agreed, calling Ron’s growth 'unfinished business' until he chooses to become the guy Hermione actually needs. And she made a point that tracks across the books and movies: Ron brings humor, ease, and a very specific grounding to Hermione. Harry can’t give her that. She can’t give that to herself. Rowling connected that to her own personality too:

"It’s such a relief from being so intense yourself - you need someone who takes life, or appears to take life, a little more light heartedly."

So no, the pairing isn’t neat. That’s the point. Ron’s warmth and levity balance Hermione in a way that fits the internal logic of the series, even if it’s not the smoothest road.

Deathly Hallows lets Hermione take the wheel

Separate from all the ship talk, Deathly Hallows is where Hermione fully steps into being the engine of the story. She makes brutal, grown-up choices — like altering her parents’ memories to keep them safe — and then basically runs point while the trio is on the move. The protective magic? The tactical planning? The moral compass that doesn’t wobble? That’s her.

Her bond with Harry in this stretch reads less like a near-romance and more like what it always was at its best: steadfast loyalty rooted in principle. By the time the story lands, Hermione’s impact goes way beyond who she ends up with; she’s one of the most capable and consequential characters in the whole saga.

The movies at a glance

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) — Director: Chris Columbus — IMDb: 7.7 — Rotten Tomatoes: 80% — Box office: $962 million
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) — Director: Chris Columbus — IMDb: 7.4 — Rotten Tomatoes: 82% — Box office: $876 million
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) — Director: Alfonso Cuaron — IMDb: 7.9 — Rotten Tomatoes: 91% — Box office: $784 million
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) — Director: Mike Newell — IMDb: 7.7 — Rotten Tomatoes: 88% — Box office: $885 million
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) — Director: David Yates — IMDb: 7.5 — Rotten Tomatoes: 78% — Box office: $937 million
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) — Director: David Yates — IMDb: 7.6 — Rotten Tomatoes: 83% — Box office: $926 million
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (2010) — Director: David Yates — IMDb: 7.7 — Rotten Tomatoes: 76% — Box office: $943 million
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011) — Director: David Yates — IMDb: 8.1 — Rotten Tomatoes: 96% — Box office: $1.3 billion

Your turn

Did Rowling shortchange Hermione, or did the canon pairing land exactly where it should? Drop your take. And if you feel like revisiting the saga, the Harry Potter films — including Deathly Hallows: Part 1 — are streaming on Max.