Hermione is the brains and logic behind the Harry, Ron and Hermione team. She can come over as a bit of a know-it-all and a swot, and indeed this is why Ron and Harry considered her to be arrogant and disliked her initially in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. This dislike was overturned, however, when she lied to protect them from punishment after they saved her from a troll.
J.K Rowling has admitted that Hermione is partly autobiographical, although she never set out to deliberately make her so. Hermione's know-it-all characteristics reflect both her and Rowling's fear of failure.
Hermione's growth in character can be seen throughout the seven books. Arrogant with her knowledge at the beginning, she learns to think quickly under immense and dangerous pressure, puts others before herself and is incredibly brave. Even when she is unconscious she is able to provide Harry and Ron with crucial information (in the Chamber of Secrets). She is also incredibly loyal, particularly towards Harry. This is demonstrated particularly when she blackmails Rita Skeeter into writing the truth about him (in the Order of the Phoenix). She will go to great lengths to help out her friends - even Ron.
Hermione being bookishly clever is a fantastic role model to many young girls. Often schoolgirls don't try as hard as they can at their subjects. Maybe they don't want to appear the class swot, maybe they want to impress boys or just hang out with them and Hermione is just the opposite, showing that being a bit of a nerd can be cool. I wish I had been more like her when I was a teenager.
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