Harry Potter: 10 Smartest Hermione Granger Moments

Throughout The Goblet of Fire Rita Skeeter was able to gain plenty of information that was supposedly impossible to obtain. As well as discovering Hagrid was half-giant, she also overheard a private conversation between Hermione and Krum and witnessed Harry’s vision in Divination.

Hermione, driven by a desire for personal revenge, figured out Rita was in fact an Animagus. By turning into a beetle, she was able to buzz around Hogwarts all year and pick up stories.

How Hermione figured this out was quite remarkable. Following Harry’s conversation with Ron about electronic methods of bugging, she had a sudden brainwave about how Rita was sneaking about the castle. Rather than using electronic bugs, Rita could literally transform herself into a beetle.

Unsurprisingly, Rowling had laid out plenty of clues. As well as Krum pulling a beetle out of Hermione’s hair at the end of the second task, Harry had noticed a beetle on a statue during Hagrid’s conversation with Madame Maxime. There was also a beetle on the window sill during the Divination class in which Harry had his vision.

Though such clues are easy to pick up on in hindsight, the fact Hermione managed to discover Rita’s secret all on her own was incredibly clever.

What do you think was Hermione’s smartest moment? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.