Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) is one of the most powerful and intelligent witches in the Harry Potter franchise, and it doesn't exactly take her long to become regarded as such. Before even stepping foot in Hogwarts, Hermione makes it her priority to memorize all her textbooks and master some pretty impressive spells. During the first few weeks of school and while she becomes friends with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Ron (Rupert Grint), Hermione masters a decent and sizable arsenal of spells. They come in handy when the trio finds themselves in some difficult situations.
Hermione's expert spellcasting and her uncanny ability to know exactly which spell will get her, Harry, and Ron out of mortal danger or any other tense situation only get better as the film series progresses. Without her and her many powers, Harry and Ron would hardly be able to stop any of the dark forces they encounter during their time at Hogwarts and abroad. However, certain spells define Hermione better than others.
Reparo
The Mending Charm
Emma Watson as Hermione casts Reparo on Harry Potter's glasses in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Hermione first demonstrates the mending charm Reparo in her first scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. She witnesses Ron attempting a spell, and when it doesn't work, she shows off her magical abilities by repairing Harry's glasses, which are tapped together in the middle. In the following film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Hermione runs into Harry as he and Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) go to Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley. Harry had broken his glasses while coming through the Flu Network, but his friend wasted no time repairing them again.
Hermione is the first wizard to perform Reparo on-screen in the franchise, so she makes it memorable. It's impressive that she can do it before stepping foot in Hogwarts. It works to impress Ron and Harry, but as spells go, Reparo isn't exactly difficult. Hermione will be capable of much more once she gets engrossed in her classes.
Homenum Revelio
The Human Revealing Charm
Emma Watson as Hermione performs Homenum Revelio in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, after being attacked by Death Eaters in London, Harry, Ron, and Hermione go to the only safe house they know of in the area, Sirius' (Gary Oldman) family home, 12 Grimmauld Place. When they arrive, an apparition of Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) appears and tries to frighten them into leaving. Hermione guesses Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson) put it in place to scare away Snape (Alan Rickman). She then performs the Human Revealing Charm, Homenum Revelio, to check if they are alone in the house, which, thankfully, they are.
Homenum Revelio is used for the first time in Deathly Hallows: Part 1. It is a very useful spell, especially for the trio, who are hiding out and must ensure they're alone wherever they stay. Considering all the spells Hermione uses in the franchise, this one isn't too memorable, but it packs a punch when needed.
Protego Totalum
The Shield Charm
Hermione, played by Emma Watson, performing Protego in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.'
In Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Harry, Ron, and Hermione use Polyjuice Potion to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic to search for Salazar Slytherin's locket. Once it's procured, the potion wears off, and a Death Eater named Yaxley (Peter Mullan) chases them and grabs Ron while they use the Flu Network to return to 12 Grimmauld Place. When Yaxley sees their safe house, Hermione brings the trio to a secluded wooden area to hide. After treating Ron's splinched arm, Hermione performs a version of the shield charm, Protego Totalum, to protect the areas where they set up camp throughout their hiding.
Like Homenum Revelio, we've never heard of Protego Totalum, but it's integral to Harry, Ron, and Hermione's survival throughout Deathly Hallows: Part 1. This charm is useful for the trio, who must stay hidden from anything that might cross their path during their journey, especially Snatchers, Death Eaters, or anyone else who sympathizes with Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). However, it's not exactly perfect, as a snatcher can still smell Hermione's perfume despite being hidden behind the charm.
Bombarda
The Exploding Charm
Hermione, played by Emma Watson, performing Bombarda in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.'
Hermione always knows the exact spell needed in any situation. Whether it's life or death, she never disappoints, including when she and Harry rescue Sirius in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. After riding Buckbeak to the tower where Harry's godfather has been imprisoned, Hermione uses the exploding charm, Bombarda. The lock on Sirius' wrought iron prison cell gate explodes, nearly injuring her and Harry, but at least Sirius is free.
Hermione could've used Alohomora, the unlocking charm, but there was no telling if the simple spell would've worked on such a high-security prisoner cell. Hermione likely used to spell because there was no time to wait and see if another, less powerful spell worked. Plus, Bombarda adds some drama to the scene. Using Bombarda also shows that Hermione knows some of the lesser-known and incredibly powerful spells, again an unusual feat for a third-year student.
Confundo
The Confundus Charm
Emma Watson as Hermione smiles after performing Confundo in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ron tries out for the role of Keeper during Quidditch tryouts. Before he shows Harry his skills on the pitch, Cormac McLaggen (Freddie Stroma) informs him he's trying out for Keeper, too, even though, as Ron points out, he has more of a Beater's build. When tryouts begin, both are put to the test. When they match each other in stopped goals, Hermione, watching from the stands, decides to help Ron's odds by performing a Confundus charm on McLaggen. It makes him jerk away from the goalpost, allowing someone to score. Ron is then crowned the victor and is offered a spot on the team.
The Confundus charm confuses people and makes them more likely to follow simple orders without thinking, hence McLaggen's confusion in moving away from the goalpost. It's a sneaky, tricky spell that is frowned upon, as it's often used in immoral ways. Hermione using it on McLaggen is shocking because it allows Ron to win during tryouts. This move would normally go against everything Hermione has always stood for: fairness, decency, and honesty. She has always firmly believed in the rules. So, the one charm she uses unfairly is memorable, to say the least.
Immobulus
The Freezing Charm
Hermione, played by Emma Watson, performing Immobulus in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
In Chamber of Secrets, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh), brings Cornish pixies to the term's first class. He sets the creatures free from their cage to see if the second-year students can recapture them, but the experiment backfires, and he flees. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are the only students left to handle the mess. Visibly exhausted by battling the pixies, Hermione uses the freezing charm Immobulus
Hermione using Immobulus to freeze the pixies is just another example of her knowing the perfect spell when things get tough. This spell works wonders in this scenario because it freezes them all simultaneously. It would've been hard to point her wand at each one while using the stunning spell, Stupefy. However, that's not how Hermione remedies the situation in the books. She's able to freeze only two pixies. Still, the inaccuracy doesn't diminish how cool it is when Hermione lets out the spell.
Petrificus Totalus
The Full Body-Bind Curse
Emma Watson as Hermione with her wand performs Petrificus Totalus in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Hermione uses the Full Body-Bind curse, Petrificus Totalus, several times in the Harry Potter franchise. The first and most memorable time is when Neville (Matthew Lewis) confronts the trio for leaving the Gryffindor common room. He doesn't want them to get Gryffindor into trouble again, but they have more important things to deal with: stopping Snape from getting the Sorcerer's Stone. To stop Neville and his meddling, Hermione uses the full body-binding curse, which freezes him. She also uses the curse against a Death Eater who attacks her, Ron, and Harry at a café in Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
It's not exactly ethical that Hermione uses Petrificus Totalus on Neville. Still, unlike when she uses the Confundus charm on McLaggen, Hermione needs to use it to get the trio out of a situation that would've gotten them in trouble and no closer to stopping Snape. It's used for the greater good of the Wizarding World if you want to go that far, because if Voldemort got the stone, he would've restored his power. Her next use of the curse is, of course, in self-defense and no less cool.
Alohomora
The Unlocking Charm
Hermione, played by Emma Watson, performing Alohomora in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
After becoming Gryffindor's new Seeker, Harry questions whether he'll play Quidditch well. Hermione overhears and shows him a trophy with his father's name on it. While they walk to the Gryffindor common room, the staircases change and lead them to a doorway on the forbidden third floor. They run once they hear Filch's (David Bradley) cat and arrive at a locked door. Harry and Ron panic, thinking they'll be found, but Hermione calmly uses the unlocking charm Alohomora to get through. Ron asks where she learned the spell, and she replies, "The Standard Book of Spells, Chapter Seven." However, they can't dwell on it for much longer because behind the locked door is something even more frightful than Filch– a three-headed dog.
Hermione is quick on her feet when she uses Alohomora on the third-floor door. Despite it being a simple spell, the moment it's used makes it feel pretty special. Ron and Harry are impressed, too, as they had no clue about it. They're also grateful for their friend's intelligence, cleverness, and resourcefulness in getting them out of trouble with Filch. Using Alohomora definitely gets Hermione a little respect, so it's one of her most memorable spells.
Wingardium Leviosa
The Levitation Charm
All the points Hermione scored trying to get on Ron and Harry's good side fall to pieces when she scolds Ron for his pronunciation of the levitation charm, Wingardium Leviosa. She might have saved them from Filch's wrath by using Alohomora on the third floor, but she doesn't show Ron how to do the charm nicely, and he resents her for it. Still, Hermione proves to be the best at Wingardium Leviosa, impressing Professor Flitwick, shocking her classmates, and making Ron jealous of how high she can levitate her white feather. She says the spell with blinding clarity and a perfect flick of her wrist.
Along with Alohomora and Reparo, Wingardium Leviosa is another simple spell Hermione masters within her first few weeks at Hogwarts. It's not exactly an important charm or one that will come in handy except during troll attacks, but being able to do it immediately after being taught while her classmates struggle is impressive. Her scolding of Ron and his pronunciation is also hard to forget.
Obliviate
The Memory Charm
Emma Watson as Hermione looks sad, performing Obliviate in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
Harry Potter fans first become acquainted with the memory charm, Obliviate, when Lockhart tries using it on Harry and Ron in Chamber of Secrets. However, by Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Hermione has become a master at it. Before leaving to join Harry and Ron on their journey to find the Horcruxes, Hermione uses the charm to wipe her parents' memory of her to protect them from Death Eaters, who might discover them. Later, Hermione uses Obliviate after two Death Eaters, Antonin Dolohov (Arben Bajraktaraj), and Thorfinn Rowle (Rod Hunt), attack her, Ron, and Harry in a café in London. After stunning Dolohov, Ron suggests Hermione wipe his memory as she's the best at spells.
Hermione seems upset at having to use the charm on Dolohov. It's likely due to having used the spell not too long ago on her parents, but whether using it conjures up unhappy memories or not, Hermione is the best at it. The trio is in grave danger throughout the final two films, and her spellcasting has become one of their most essential weapons. Obliviate is also one of the most important spells in her arsenal, as it wipes the memories of their foes instead of killing them. However, that still doesn't mean it's not tearing Hermione apart using it on whoever it is, a Death Eater or her parents. This is one of the first times Hermione uses a spell in a not-so-great way, and she doesn't know how to feel about it. All she does know is that she has to help protect her friends and herself.
