Yes, yes, Jo completely missed the perfect opportunity to make Harry a professor at Hogwarts but can we all just stop and agree that Hermione would never actually be the Minister of Magic?
Like don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying she’s not capable. Although we all know that Hermione went through the Legolas Effect in the movies and I think Jo might have been influenced by that a bit. Still, I have no doubt that if Hermione really wanted to be the Minister, her ambitiousness could get her there. She could pull it off. If she really wanted to. But in what book series does Hermione ever express any interest in ruling over the entire British wizarding world? Nah. One of Hermione’s biggest character growths in the series (that very few people talk about) is her going from completely and blindly trusting all authority figures to cynically realizing that there are very few, if any, out there who will be able to protect her, causing her to take matters into her own hands. She wouldn’t become the person in the position she hated. Nah. She would become the person who argued against the person in the position she hated.
Picture this (and then proceed to never look at the epilogue the same way again): Hermione Jean Granger, Supreme Lawyer for the Wizengamot.
It’s perfect. Even back in the first book, Hermione was argumentative, stubborn, bossy, and obsessed with research and facts. These traits never really went away as she got older. Instead, other traits were added on. She spent an entire year trying to help Hagrid prepare his case so that Buckbeak wasn’t wrongfully executed. (Honestly this alone should have been enough for Jo.) She gets involved in S.P.E.W. She frequently voices her concerns over Umbridge skiving the law. She recites certain laws throughout the book, such as Gamp’s law. She’s quick to take down the Minister of Magic when he lets it slip that they didn’t follow Dumbledore’s will.
I mean the Minister of Magic even looks at her and says that she should follow a career in Magical Law! (Granted Hermione turns him down but she just did that to get in a jab at how the Wizengamot and the related offices were useless at the time.)
Just imagine it though. Hermione Jean Granger arguing in front of the Wizengamot on behalf of the rights of Muggleborns, House-Elves, Muggles, etc. etc. etc. Hermione getting a public trial to posthumously clear Sirius’ name. Hermione ending the corruption and calling out the bullshit legally.
Hermione either prosecuting or defending previous Death Eaters and when it’s time for Lucius’ trial, Draco gapes at her and sneers, “Granger? You became an Attorney for the Wizengamot?” and she just stares back and asks:
Fuck JKR 