Hermione Granger is one of the most beloved characters in the Harry Potter franchise. Her intelligence, generosity, friendship, and witty lines make her a memorable and lovable character. Although she proves her smarts and strength many times throughout the series and earns her Gryffindor title, she also has many vulnerable and sad moments. These are difficult for the audience to see.
Being Muggle-born and unapologetically clever, Hermione experiences mean comments and bullying from her peers. Though she tries to put on a brave face, fans can see how much this gets to her. As she grows up, Hermione often faces challenges, obstacles, and hardships that break the viewers' hearts.
10 Hermione's Peers Mocked Her
When viewers meet Hermione Granger in The Philosopher's Stone, she is smart, hardworking, and a little overbearing. This makes her an easy target for mockery, especially from Ron, who seems envious of her intelligence. When Hermione overhears Ron saying that she has not got any friends, it really hurts her.
Seeing Hermione spend all day alone, crying in the girls' bathroom is incredibly sad. This also almost leads to her death, as Hermione is unaware of the troll roaming the castle on Halloween night and comes face-to-face with him in the bathroom.
9 Hermione Helping The Group Leads To Her Being Petrified
Hermione proves her bravery and sacrificial nature in The Chamber of Secrets when she figures out the identity of the incredibly dangerous Basilisk that Tom Riddle is using as a weapon. However, when Hermione gets a glimpse of the creature, she's Petrified and left frozen.
For Harry and Ron, losing Hermione during the final moments of their second year really affects them. However, their sadness is almost worth it when the trio reunites in a heartwarming scene. At the final year feast, Hermione and Harry run into each other's arms while Ron awkwardly welcomes Hermione back.
8 She Became Malfoy's Target
The term 'Mudblood' is an incredibly nasty slur used against Muggle-born witches and wizards. It is used to highlight the fact that their blood is not pure and is, in a pure-blood wizard's opinion, tainted by non-magic genes. The term is frequently used toward Hermione by Draco Malfoy, who verbally abuses her in The Chamber of Secrets.
Hearing the slur upsets Hermione, who tries her best to prove herself a worthy witch despite her background. The moment is incredibly sad but seeing Hagrid make sure Hermione knows her worth is a touching scene.
7 Her Reaction To Buckbeak's Death
Seeing any innocent creature lose their life is difficult, but seeing the beloved Buckbeak die because of Draco Malfoy is even worse. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Buckbeak reacts to Malfoy's arrogant behavior and accidentally injures him. This results in Buckbeak being sentenced to death.
After visiting Hagrid, the Golden Trio is on the castle grounds during Buckbeak's execution. Hermione is crying, burying her face in Ron's shoulder so she doesn't see the moment unfold. This is the first real moment of closeness the two share, which makes it even more heartbreaking.
6 Ron Ruined Her Night At The Yule Ball
Hermione steals the show at the Yule Ball, arriving in a beautiful pink dress and finding herself on the arm of Durmstrang's Viktor Krum. Hermione appears to have a brilliant time, finally allowing herself to have fun. However, this moment is ruined by a jealous Ron. He berates Hermione for attending with 'the enemy' and makes her feel awful.
Seeing Hermione go from being on cloud nine to crying on the Hogwarts staircase is a sad sight. She doesn't get to experience many moments of true happiness throughout the franchise, so this is particularly upsetting.
5 Seeing Ron And Lavender Together Broke Her Heart
Hermione and Ron have a rocky start to their relationship, going from reluctant friends to each other's family. Around The Order of the Phoenix, the two begin developing a playful dynamic that hints at a romance blossoming between the two. That is why it is difficult for Hermione to witness Ron dating Lavender Brown in The Half-Blood Prince
Having felt something developing between her and Ron, Hermione is seriously hurt and confused by his actions. Even though her heart is broken, it is nice to see that Harry is there to support her, and the two bond over wanting people they cannot have.
4 Hermione Removed Her Parent's Memories
Although Hermione's parents don't make many appearances within the series, she appears to be on pretty good terms with them. They seem to support her adventures in the Wizarding World, despite them being muggles themselves. Therefore, the scene where Hermione erases their memories shatters the hearts of every fan.
To protect her parents and allow her to leave without argument, Hermione removes herself from her parents' memories, so it is like she never existed. Seeing the pain on Hermione's face is difficult to watch, even though both she and the viewer knows it is for the best.
3 Her Reaction To Ron Leaving
In The Deathly Hallows: Part One, the Golden Trio is separated. Frustrated at not getting any closer to completing their mission, and negatively influenced by the Horcrux locket, Ron says some harsh things to Harry and leaves. Hermione feels torn. She wants to help Harry but also understands Ron's frustrations.
This, coupled with her growing feelings for Ron, causes Hermione a lot of pain when she chooses to stay with Harry and watch Ron walk away. Watching the trio separate is hard for any viewer, especially after seeing Hermione's heartbreak at the situation.
2 She Became Bellatrix's Victim
One of the most harrowing and difficult-to-watch scenes of the entire franchise occurs in The Deathly Hallows. When the trio gets taken to Malfoy Manor, Bellatrix finds out that the sword of Gryffindor, which had previously been in her bank vault, was in Hermione's possession. Believing Hermione stole it, Bellatrix tortures Hermione and locks the other two up.
Hermione's ear-piercing screams break the hearts of both viewers and her friends, who try desperately to help her. Bellatrix carves 'Mudblood' into Hermione's arm, once again using her Muggle-born identity to hurt her.
1 Hermione Suspected That Harry Had To Die
Being the most intelligent in the trio, Hermione had an unnerving suspicion that Harry may be the final Horcrux that needs to be destroyed to kill Voldemort. For both Hermione and Harry, the moment that realization sinks in is incredibly sad.
As Harry and Hermione embrace, viewers can see just how much love and friendship have built up between them over seven years. Hermione even offers to go with Harry to meet Voldemort in the forest, but he knows he has to do it all by himself.