When Harry plays the game as "Seeker," she recognizes when he falls under an evil spell, and she figures out how to counteract the bad magic so Harry can win and catch the Snitch. He couldn't have won without her. And it is Hermoine who discovers the nature of the "Sorcerer's Stone." She realizes that evil Voldamort is trying to get it for his own use. She cautions Harry to be careful, but at the same time she reassures him, "As long as Dumbledorf's around, you can't be touched, Harry." Ron tells her (following a spell she cast), "Hermoine, you're scary sometimes...brilliant...but scary." When all three land in a snake pit at one point, Hermoine tells them not to struggle as she has read about this and "Devil's Snag hates sunlight." Harry comments afterwards, "Lucky, Hermoine reads..." Hermoine also has a strong sense of values. She tells Harry there are more important things than books and cleverness -- "friendship and bravery." At the end of the story, Dumbledorf honors her. "To Miss Hermoine Granger for cool intellect when others were in grave danger -- 50 points!"

Currently, there are two fantasy themes about women present in society. One is the traditional; the other has developed since the women's movement began in 1841. This second theme has strengthened and become more prevalent in the last 40 years when women have made considerable progress debunking the traditional stereotype of the ideal woman as portrayed in the Princess Bride. In the traditional view, the ideal woman looked beautiful at all...

She surrendered her own desires, hid her intelligence, and honored only the needs of her husband. If she failed in any of these, she lost her femininity and was seen as a witch or a hag -- no longer a real woman. In contrast, the ideal woman in Harry Potter is self-reliant and a team player. She is intellectually the equal of men, better educated (because more eager to learn), and has spiritual qualities such as courage, strength, bravery and resourcfulness that were traditionally reserved for men. She is assertive and capable of taking action in an emergency. She is not afraid to speak her mind.
Children are crazy about Harry Potter. There is no doubt that the story and characters resonate with them. The character of Hermoine can be seen as a role model for young girls and the attitudes of Harry and Ron who accept her as an equal is a model for boys. As children grow up with images of resourceful females, they will seek to emulate the model. Rhetoric becomes reality.

Hermoine has a full rich life ahead of her because of who she is -- you could say, who society allows her to be. As society accepts this new image of what a woman can be, the old image will more and more fall into obscurity. Women take on greater challenges and act boldly. Buttercup will disappear. Hermoine will be the reality.