Lily had two children

[kgonekrazy]

Ok, this is a discussion that my roommate and I had today it is a bit out there, but just think about it. Harry and Hermione are brother and sister. Ok here are the thoughts we had on the subject.

1- Hermione is ten months older then Harry, which makes it possible.
2- Hermione was put up for adoption for one of many reasons:
a- There was a prophecy saying that the Potter's first born would be in great danger from Voldy. Hermione was given up to muggles to protect her from him. Unlucky they miss understood the prophecy, they meant first born son not first born child.
b- Lily was kidnapped by Voldy while she was pregnant with Hermione. Gave birth to her while under his control. Snape was order to kill Hermione, but he could not bring himself to kill her and instead drop Hermione off at a muggle orphanage.

[Cat]

But there's nothing in the books to suggest they're related! In fact, I'd like to think that Hermione's parents are those dentists. I mean, she's been breaking the mould of 'mudblood' throughout the books and makes a good lesson of herself.

[I heart Sirius]

aah i read a really good post in another forum about this same subject a while ago, and that person made a few valid points and its was very well thought out. unfortunatly i dont remember exactly where is was i read it..:??:

[Tarawyn]

I highly doubt that Hermione is a year older than Harry, any more than she's Harry's sister. There are distinct differences in the personality of an eleven and twelve year old, a twelve and thirteen year old, a thirteen and fourteen year old...and Hermione's playing the part of the girl further back, from hormones to behavior. Her behavior at the Yule Ball is not that of a fifteen year old of any type. Rowling, an excellent character crafter, would have made it very clear if Hermione was meant to be approximately a year older than the others in her year. I believe that there's an article on this matter at the Lexicon, which I lost the link to...

And as for her being Harry's sister? There is absolutely nothing that suggests this as of yet. The prophecy point is very, very, vague, and as far as we know, her first prediction had absolutely nothing to do with Harry. If Lily had been kidnapped by Voldemort, she would have been dead far before she gave birth to Harry. Also, the fact that Riddle, who seems to have far too much knowledge instilled in him, named Hermione Muggle-born suggests that...well...she's Muggle-born. It also gives off the vibe that Cat was talking about, that her birth has nothing to do with her skill. And Draco's anger. And Hagrid's opinion. If Hermione wasn't Muggle-born, a good point of the story would be spoiled, and it'd be disappointing for everyone--including Rowling. Crafting a character to erase half her work?

[Reb]

Her birthday is September 19th, and I would take it that she turns 11 then in the first book as if she did turn 11 in 1990 then she would have started school in 1990. Who knows, maybe she was held back. Know where was it mentioned how old she is?

Speaking of sister of Harry, there's a good fan fic that I know of where he Temporarily has a sister. It's hard to explain, but if someone wants I can put down the link.

[Kneazle]

Here's (http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/timeline_hermione.html#birthyear) the article that Tarawyn mentioned.

I agree with Cat and Sara. There's really been nothing to suggest that Harry and Hermione are related (though I've seen a few theories that suggest that they have a rather sibling-like relationship) and she's been redefining the term "mudblood/muggle-born". It would be disappointing, I think.

Originally posted by I heart Sirius
aah i read a really good post in another forum about this same subject a while ago, and that person made a few valid points and its was very well thought out. unfortunatly i dont remember exactly where is was i read it.. :??:
Is this (http://www.harrypotterfacts.com/_columns_martel.htm) what you're looking for? Section 5, I mean...

[Knight]

I'm thorougly convinced that Hermione is younger than Harry (and Ron is older than both of them). The easy rule would be that you have to turn eleven before the school year starts, which would mean Hermione turned 12 at the very beginning of PS/SS. But for some reason this just doesn't work for me. My rule is that you have to turn eleven within the calander year that you begin school. So as long as your birthday is sometime in the spring semester preceding your first year or the fall of your first year you may start. So there.

[Sam]

Originally posted by kgonekrazy
Ok, this is a discussion that my roommate and I had today it is a bit out there, but just think about it. Harry and Hermione are brother and sister. Ok here are the thoughts we had on the subject.

1- Hermione is ten months older then Harry, which makes it possible.
2- Hermione was put up for adoption for one of many reasons:
a- There was a prophecy saying that the Potter's first born would be in great danger from Voldy. Hermione was given up to muggles to protect her from him. Unlucky they miss understood the prophecy, they meant first born son not first born child.
b- Lily was kidnapped by Voldy while she was pregnant with Hermione. Gave birth to her while under his control. Snape was order to kill Hermione, but he could not bring himself to kill her and instead drop Hermione off at a muggle orphanage.

I really don't buy it. I guess I need more proof--and it needs to be good.

I just don't think that Hermione is in any way related to Harry. I don't think that the dynamic will play out well in the books-nor will it make for a great conflict. I mean, there's already a great conflict between Voldie and Harry---why do you need more?

[samwitch]

i highly, highly, doubt that hermione and harry are related.

#1 there is not even a shred of hermione looking like any of the potters, nor harry... and i know that a lot of kids don't look like their siblings/parents... but often there is a tiny bit of them looking like somone in the family. even if it's just a smile, it would have definitely been mentioned.

#2 it would have been mentioned/hinted at. there would have been some hint that would have been noticed by now, sending several fingers pointing in that direction.

but that's not going to say that there isn't another potter child out there... just most likely it isn't hermione.

[Liz]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion..but in my opinion..you have a very healthy imagination kgonekrazy! But i dont think that they could be brother and sister..there would be some sort of clue to suggest that..in one of the first four books...sorry to spoil the party...

[Qeomash]

I really doubt that Harry and Hermione are related closer than both share Adam and Eve as their ancestors. Besides that, no relation.

I wouldn't be surprised if someday they're related in marrage, but I still hold for Ron/Hermione.

Back to the subject, I really doubt that we're going to see ANYBODY suddenly discover they're related. Somebody asked JKR about Harry/Voldie and she just laught and said (or to the affect) "wouldn't that be too much like Star Wars?"

[kgonekrazy]

It is just a theory on my part, I really don't belive it. In the same breath I would have not belived that James and Lily died because of something Ron's rat did.

[dumbleedore]

I had a theory like this on the old forums. I have the disk here somewhere... i'll be back when I find it...

[Sirius Black]

Hermione and Harry defenitly can't be brother and sister. Hermione is a muggle, she hasn't done any magic without a wand unlike Harry and Neville, she can't be Harry's sister. There no match between him and her or Harry' parents. I think they're just those dentists. Anyway, a mother can't jus give birth to a baby another in 10 months time. And she's not 10 months bigger than Harry, when's her birthday again? Was it April?(can someone tell me, I forgot, but I am defenit there's not a 10 months difference.)

[dtpoet]

This theory has been played to death on other sites. While I do not believe that they are brother and sister, I do believe that Hermione is older than Harry.

Not brother & sister?

If you have children, like I do, you realize that a pregnancy is NOT actually 9 months...it is 40 weeks. That means that Lily would have had to deliver Hermione and within weeks be pregnant again with Harry. Mathmatically, I guess it's possible, but it's not practical.

Hermione older?

I looked this issue up on a British Education Website months ago. While I do not remember the site or the details, it was possible. I think it went something along the lines that in England, you started school the year and/or semester following your 5th birthday. In which case, if Hermione were younger than Hermione would be a grade lower than Harry and Ron since the "year and/or semester following" her birthday would be the following school year since she wouldn't have turned 5 until after school had started (September).

In order for all 3 of them to be in same class, then Hermione would have to be older. This assumes that Hogwarts follows the same rules.

dtpoet

[Sirius Black]

I think your're right. Hermione can't be Harry's sister but can be older than him. Even the idea of them being brother and sister is unthinkable to me. It's just not fun anymore. And she did kiss him in the last book which makes it different from siblinghood.

[BlackMage]

This is dumb. Why are people debating on things like this and cannot except the fact that they are how they are represented?

[dumbleedore]

I found my disk.

Just a warning, this is VERY long. 6 pages in word. It took me 2 1/2 hours to do one day at work and you may shoot me as much as you wish.

One: Can Riddle/Voldemort and Harry be related?

In CoS, Riddle tells that he is the last descendent of Slytherin, which makes a relation to the Potter’s almost impossible.

But Riddle came out of the diary. Riddle is a preservation of his sixteen year old self, which means that things that happened after he preserved himself, he should not know about it.

Counter argument: he knows about Harry’s defeats of his future self.

Counter response: Ginny was telling Riddle things through the diary, so she would have told him all about Harry’s defeats of Voldemort.

So, consider this.

Riddle’s mother died after childbirth. But what if, unknown to the sixteen year old Riddle, she had a sister? Now, this sister had a daughter who married a wizard by the name of Potter. They had a son, James. This would make Harry Voldemort’s 3rd cousin.

Riddle also mentions in CoS how much he and Harry look alike. You don’t have to be a direct relation to look like someone.

Riddle might not have known that his mother had a sister when he preserved himself. He might have found that out after he left Hogwarts, so, he couldn’t mention it to Harry as his preserved self would not have known. If Harry is in fact Voldemort’s cousin, the key to his defeat would be inside Harry.

Two: The road to immortality

Taking my theory on the possible Riddle/Potter connection and combining it with the theory for immortality on Springy’s thread, I have come up with this.

If Voldemort was taking steps towards immortality and those steps involved killing his family so that he was the final one, this gives us a reason for his wanting to kill the Potter’s.

Voldemort killed his father’s family. His mother died giving birth to him, so as a result he technically killed her. Over the years, once he had found out about his mothers sister and her child he killed them. There were only two people he had to kill to be immortal. James Potter and his son, Harry.

Voldemort killed James first and then went to get Harry. But Lily wouldn’t stop guarding her son. He killed her to get to Harry. But the curse bounced off Harry onto Voldemort. Why?

Consider this point. To become immortal along this path the family member have to be killed in receding order. So, Voldemort’s mother died first, but he backtracked and killed his grandparents, then his father. He then killed his mother’s sister, his first cousin and then his 2nd cousin James Potter. He went to kill his 3rd cousin Harry, but there was another person meant to be killed before Harry. Another person to which both Voldemort and Harry have no idea about. Voldemort’s curse backfired because he tried to kill them in the wrong order.

Three: The re-rising of Voldemort

When Voldemort rises again, he mentions how he would settle for his old body and his old strength. That old strength includes the steps he had taken against immortality. Voldemort has not yet realised that before he can kill Harry he has another Potter he has to kill. But who is it?

Four: The other Potter

We know that James and Lily knew that Voldemort was after them. We know that they know why. But WE do not know why as of yet.

Once James and Lily had left school, Dumbledore warned them that Voldemort was after them. We don’t know how long after they left school that this warning came. Dumbledore told them why Voldemort was after them. He told them that their best chance was to have children.

Lily became pregnant and when the first child was born, they put it up for adoption without the child knowing it’s true meaning in life. But Lily didn’t want her first born to go to any old home. She summoned the help of an old muggle friend, who took this baby as her own.

Lily then, 10 months later, had a second child. A son, Harry.

So who was this other Potter? Could it be Hermione Granger?

Five: Hermione and Harry, Luke and Leia

Hermione is born in September, but we don’t know what year. It has never been mentioned. Hermione could have been born the year before Ron and Harry, which makes her the prime suspect for being the Potter’s first child.

All we know about Hermione’s past is that she is supposedly muggle born. But, think of it this way.

When Lily gave her baby up for adoption, she contacted an old muggle school friend, let’s call her Mary. Now Mary had been married since school days, to Bill Granger. Lily confided her situation to Mary and Bill, who agreed to take this baby and raise it as their own. Mary and Lily kept in contact and Lily informed her of the second child’s birth. But one day contact was severed. Growing worried about Lily, Mary contacted Lily’s sister, Petunia, who informed Mary that Lily had died.

So, let’s just say that Hermione is the missing Potter.

Bill and Mary raised Hermione as their own child. Professor Dumbledore stayed in contact with them and purposely kept Hermione out of Hogwarts for an extra year so that she would enter at the same time as Harry. Hermione has known all along that she has a younger brother, though they have never met. She knows that she is adopted and she also knows that no one else must know, especially Harry as he knows nothing about his past.

Hermione is very curious when she meets Harry, but she also wastes no time in telling him everything she knows about him. She says that she had just read all these things, but it’s a jolly good cover up idea because she does read a lot. Hermione goes out of her way to try and become friends with Harry. What other reason does she have other than being related to him? He’s not exactly nice to her to begin with, but Hermione keeps on trying.

By the end of first year, Dumbledore has told McGonagall that Harry and Hermione are in fact siblings, which is the only reason I can give for McGonagall taking Harry aside when Hermione gets petrified in CoS. Sure, she does add on Ron at the end, but to begin with she only wants to take Harry. It seems strange that she would take a friend aside and show the friend, when she could have just told them straight off.

Harry and Hermione being related does have a Star Wars theme, but over the course of reading the ‘Harry Potter’ books, I have learnt to expect the unexpected. And because we think it’s too Star Wars, we think it won’t happen. Never try to fathom the way an authors mind works. They always give you what you least expect, or if they give you something that has been done before they somehow improve it with their style. As long as Voldemort isn’t mentioned as Harry’s father.

Six: Hermione, why Gryffindor?

We have never been given a reason why Hermione was placed into Gryffindor. To tie this all in together, I am thinking that she was placed into Gryffindor because of her relation to the Potter’s.

We don’t know about each students individual experience with the sorting hat. The sorting hat obviously saw who Hermione was inside and placed her in Gryffindor.

Counter argument: people aren’t sorted by their family, Parvati and Padma Patil for example.

Counter response: whilst you aren’t sorted by your blood line, your blood line obviously has a lot to do with the person you become. The sorting hat has the power to see who you will become and it saw Potter blood in Hermione. We know that the Potter’s were in Gryffindor.

Let’s look at the qualities the sorting hat lists for each house:

Gryffindor: Brave, daring
Ravenclaw: Clever, witty
Slytherin: Power hungry, cunning
Hufflepuff: Hard working, loyal

So, going by what we are given, the best place for Hermione would have been Ravenclaw as she is clever and witty.

Counter argument: we haven’t seen all of Hermione yet. She is brave. She could be braver in the future.

Counter response: yes, Hermione is brave, but being brave isn’t her first thing. If she had the choice of adventure or a good book she would choose the good book, unless she went with Harry and Ron.

Counter argument: but often it is Hermione who is a bit braver than the boys. She went back in time without a question, once she had found out about the Basilisk she risked her life to warn others, she followed down the trap door.

Counter response: true, very true, but what if she just went to make sure Harry was alright? She wanted to tell Harry about the Basilisk so that they would know who the voice is. She followed them down the trap door because she didn’t want Voldemort to regain power either. She went back in time because Dumbledore asked her and also because she knew how much it would mean to Harry.

Counter argument: forget it…

Seven: Hermione’s place on the road of immortality

So, if Hermione is in fact Harry’s older sister, then in order for Voldemort to become immortal fully, he needs to kill Hermione before Harry. If he doesn’t, the curse will just rebound off Harry again and half kill him again. So, at some point in the next few books Voldemort will find out about Hermione’s place on the road, as will Harry. This ties in nicely with one thing we know already about book five. Something big will be revealed from Lily’s past.

So, with Hermione’s place on the road of immortality filled, we now have enough information to hazard a guess at how everything will end.

Eight: Professor Trelawney’s first predication

Dumbledore mentioned in PoA that Professor Trelawney has in fact made a correct prediction before. Could it be her prediction that led to Dumbledore tipping off the Potter’s? This is the weakest point of my theories,

Counter argument: It says in one of the books that one of Dumbledore’s spies tipped him off to the fact that Voldemort was after the Potter’s.

Counter response: It could have been the spies information along with Trelawney’s prediction that enabled Dumbledore to get enough information to tip the Potter’s off. It might have been Trelawney’s prediction that the Potter’s would have two children, one to keep, one to give away and that these children control the destiny of the entire world (bit of a burden if you ask me).

Nine: So, how will it all end?

By the end of book 7, most of the Potter’s secrets will have been revealed to Harry and Hermione, if she is in fact Harry’s sister. They will know that it is up to Harry and Hermione to fight Voldemort, because it is only with their combined powers that he can be defeated.

So, brave Harry and Hermione head off to fight Voldemort, but not without company. Ron and Ginny tag along. They meet with Voldemort and there is a battle. A few adults are there as well, but most of the battle is played out with H/R/H/G. Ron is the first to die during the battle. Hermione then does something stupid (don’t ask me what, I’m just guessing here) and gets herself killed. Voldemort is gaining success. Once he has killed Harry he will be immortal. Run, Harry, run!

Voldemort’s killing of Ron and Hermione makes Harry mad. This man has already killed his parents, and few other people Harry cares about, and now he had killed Harry’s sister and best friend. It’s pay back time, and now it’s personal.

The battle continues and Voldemort corners Harry and Ginny. He doesn’t need to kill Ginny. He doesn’t even want to. He just wants Harry dead. But little Ginny has always loved Harry, even if he’s never shown that he loves her. Voldemort raises his wand to kill Harry and Ginny jumps in front of the curse and dies, unwittingly providing Harry with the same protection that his mother left in him. Voldemort and Harry have words after Ginny’s death and Voldemort goes to kill Harry. But, with Ginny’s love protecting Harry and the fact that he is the last Potter, the curse rebounds again. But this time it rebounds due to something I mentioned before. Voldemort messed up the order. His mother died before his grandparents, so that means that the road of immortality has been stuffed up. Again. But this time the curse rebounds fully and kills Voldemort, but at the same time, kills Harry. And so end’s the Harry Potter books: Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all dead.

Ten: If Hermione is in fact a Potter, who does she take after?

We don’t know much about the Potter’s for this part, so I am going on what we know.

James is stated as being one of the cleverest students in the school. We have assumed that Lily was also quite smart. So, there are her brains for a start.

But what about looks wise? All we know about Hermione’s looks is her bushy brown hair and buck teeth which she shrunk. If Hermione did in fact look like Lily, we wouldn’t have been told that yet as Harry has not seemed interested in her looks, so if she does look like Lily or James, it will get mentioned when someone says something or Harry looks at a photo and realises how close they look. This could be how he finds out that they are in fact related.

Eleven: Now I’m just wasting your time (last one)

So, what can we gather from all my ramblings? I’m going to let you decipher what I mean. So, pick and poke through all that (sorry it’s so long) and point out holes. It’s just a whole pile of thoughts that got me out of doing some work for two and a half hours (yes, 2 ½ hours it took me to write that and design my family tree).

Have fun…

[Zonko]

Thats a theory and a half but really theres not to much evidence in it but i'd like to see that happen it would add some storyline too it

[MakTB]

Originally posted by dtpoet
I looked this issue up on a British Education Website months ago. While I do not remember the site or the details, it was possible. I think it went something along the lines that in England, you started school the year and/or semester following your 5th birthday. In which case, if Hermione were younger than Hermione would be a grade lower than Harry and Ron since the "year and/or semester following" her birthday would be the following school year since she wouldn't have turned 5 until after school had started (September).
dtpoet

Your quite right, my sister was in the same sitution and was the oldest in her class due to her birthday.

I don't think JKR will throw a new sibling into it now. If so where was she on the night at Godric Hollow? Why was there no mention of 'the other'?

[dorcasderr]

Wow. Dumbleedore, that's quite a theory! I like it, but I'm not sure I agree with it. But it's obvious a lot of thought went into it. Very impressive. I would certainly hope for a happier ending, though.

[dtpoet]

"And she did kiss him in the last book which makes it different from siblinghood." --SiriusBlack

While I still believe they are not brother / sister, don't base it on the fact, Sirius, that Hermione kissed Harry at the end of GOF...

...REMEMBER...it was a kiss on the CHEEK...which opens the kiss to a billion interpretations.

dtpoet

[Kneazle]

True, dtpoet.


dumbleedore-- wow. Excellent theory. I like it a lot, though I still don't think Harry and Hermione are related. It's one of the best I've seen.

[Emilia]

I may be dreaming, but hasn't JK said that Harry and hermione will go on a date in book five. Something about hormones. If they are brother and sister, isn't that just a little Jerry Springer?

But it is an interesting theory the whole sibling scheme, and it would mean that harry isn't all alone in the world, it's always broken my heart that he is now.


But if Dumbledore knew about the adoption of Hermione, why wouldn't he send harry to live with the Grangers when Voldemort killed Lily and James? Ther're muggles so he wouldn't have gotten big headed and they would have been kinder to him (probably anyway) then the dursley's.

[Da da da da da86]

I'm sorry, I hve not yet read all the posts, so this may already have been said...

Tarawyn mentioned that lily would be likely to die if she were kidnapped.. Well, perhaps Voldie developed some sort of twisted affection for her. This might help explain why he did not want to kill Lily.

However, I'd have to side with Hermione not being Harry's sister. That would just be wrong. Honestly, Harry is beginning to "notice" her.. Eww. I suppose that'd be okay if you wanted book 7 to be Harry Potter and his mental problems, cause that's what he might get.

Then again... Leia is Luke's sister..

[Tarawyn]

And considering that, we're not likely to see them as siblings. Rowling doesn't seem to like the Star Wars repeats.

A twisted affection? Yes, twisted, as Voldemort would have been fourty-odd years older than her, the fact that she had bloodlines that he hated, the fact that he doesn't seem to have a speck of emotion in him. It doesn't seem likely that he'd give her a sentence of warning if he really wanted her alive. The way he "spoke" to her, it seems that he didn't care if she was dead or alive, he just wanted Harry. Which makes more than a little more sense than him having any affection.

Returning to the original topic...there quite possibly could be a way around the age barrier. In the U.S., for instance, different cities and states, and different private schools, have different cuts. I went to a private school for elementary, and as a result, I'm a year older than everyone in my current grade. We're not sure of how Hogwarts works as of entrance; this is all a mess of assumption. Some of us do expect it to happen, because it's all together too neat, and that's one of the reasons why I doubt it. Anything with the slightest bit of likelyhood isn't prone to happen. Rowling has a habit of doing things after dropping little hints that are completely unclear until the event happens.

[bunn2007]

dtpoet: my mom said it's 9 months.(she's had 2 kids, my little bro & I)
star wars ppl.: james is still harry's father, rite? i really can't see voldy saying "harry i am ur father".
not enough evidence ppl.: read something speculations at harrypotterfacts.com. it has a lot.
i really hope it doesn't happen but i think it wouldn't be as bad a disappointment if u have ur mind open.

[dtpoet]

"dtpoet: my mom said it's 9 months.(she's had 2 kids, my little bro & I)"
--bunn2007

bunn2007,

human gestation is on the average 40 weeks which divided by 4 (rounding off the number of weeks in a month (yes, I know it.s 4.somethingsomethingsomething)) would be 10 months. Anyway, if HErmione's birthday is around the first of September and Harry's is July 31, then that would be...hmm...47 weeks. I guess she could get pregnant some 7 weeks after delivering Hermione.


"ut if Dumbledore knew about the adoption of Hermione, why wouldn't he send harry to live with the Grangers when Voldemort killed Lily and James? Ther're muggles so he wouldn't have gotten big headed and they would have been kinder to him (probably anyway) then the dursley's." -- Emilia

Emilia,

I suspect that one of the reasons why Dumbledore wanted Harry to live with the Dursleys is that Harry had to learn that the muggle world was not the place for them...that once he set foot inside Hogwarts, that he felt like he was home.

It is well noted in the books that some wizards become almost infatuated witht the muggle world. I suspect that's what holds Arthur Weasley back from advancing any further in his profession. Arthur is totally obsessed with the muggle world to the point he risks his own job and therefore family's security. He's lucky he didn't get sacked from his job after what happened with the Ford Angelia. Do you remember how much he got fined...what...50 galleons? Remember when they went to vault in COS and all they had in there was one gold galleon and a stack of silver sickles? His obession cost his family dearly. It's only what they win in the beginning of POA that bails them out.

Point being, Dumbledore wanted to be sure the same didn't happen to Harry. While he is familar with the muggle world because he grew up in it for 11 years, Harry could care less about what happens in it (i.e. politics, sports, etc.) while at the same time still maintains compassion for most muggles. However, Harry is keenly aware how cruel and untrust worthy muggles can be.

Harry definately feels at home at Hogwarts thanks in part to the decisions Dumbledore made that fateful night when the fate of a child and the entire wizard world fell feel into his hands.

dtpoet

[bunn2007]

i just though of something. basically every other month from Jan.(except July & Aug. which r about 5 weeks & r next to each other) is about 5 weeks. so u really wouldn't divide by 4. & remember the theory on harrypotterfacts.com? they were in a hurry! they didn't want voldy to gain immortaility & supposedly needed more kids to make it harder 4 him. & so even if it was just 7 weeks they needed more kids. so yes it would make sense.

[dtpoet]

bunn

that's what I meant by the 4.somethingsomethingsomething. And yes, 7 weeks between birth and pregnancy is definately doable so noone can debunk the theory simply based on that.

With that said, I do believe there is something "special" between the two and I don't think it's romantic either. I do think the kiss on the cheek at the end of GOF is more of a "sister/brother" or "cousin/sousin" thing. They just seem to click together...thinking along the same wavelength. It's almost eery.

I don't buy that the kiss is a romantic foreshadowing at all especially since JKR slowly (and almost painstakingly may I add) developed the whole Ron/Hermione relationship throughout the entire GOF story.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

dtpoet

[Kneazle]

Also, regarding a Harry/Hermione match, JK has said that they have a very platonic relationship. I don't think she's headed in that direction.

[hermiowninny]

From September 19 to July 31 the following year is is 305 days or 43.5 weeks. Gestation is 40 weeks from last menstruation, but about 38 weeks from conception, and is considered full term after 37 weeks. If Harry were born 3 weeks early, at 37 weeks, or even a a bit early, then it is quite possible. Also, it seems that James and Lily knew they had to have children in a HURRY.

Now, regarding the school year, where I live, a child's age on September 1st determines when one starts school. This is true in much of the U.S. In California, the date was set at December 2nd. I know of no place where the calendar year is used to determine class placement. Anyway, with a September 1st cutoff, Harry and Hermione would definitely be in the same year at Hogwarts. I don't know the rules in the UK regarding this.

After seeing CoS last night, I am convinced that Harry and Hermione are brother and sister.

[Justin Etre]

I LOVE THIS THEORY!!!, WTG!!!
I think it'd rock Hermione's world to find out that she was a pure wizard and that she is Harry's sister. It also fits into the story because she mothers Harry a bit, and looks out for him and protects him e.g. when she brought him breakfast and they ate by the lake OR when she reported the firebolt to McGonagall because she thought Sirius Black had cursed it, OR when she got the mickey taken out of herself by Rita Skeeter
Also there is no sexual tension between Harry and Hermione, but there is between Hermione and Ron.

...and maybe Hermione knows about it, hence the obsessive study she did about him and the instant way she befriended him???

[Tinkie]

I have to agree with Tarawyn here. i dont think that Harry and Hermione are brother and sister. firsat of all there is nothing to suggest something like this. Secondly, as someone has said, she hasnt done any magic without the wand as Harry did. Thirdly, i dont think she is that much older thab Harry
I think it would be disappointing if this theory came out to be true...

[dantares]

I think this might be a good theory. Hermione might really be Harry's sister. She takes cares of him too much. And I think she is older than Harry, She can't be younger. She is Harry's sister. I'm so convinced. Look at how she cares about him!!!

[Tarawyn]

Dantares, why can't she be younger? In book one, she certainly wasn't acting as if she was twelve years old. Rowling could have erred with her birthday in accordance to the school system--she isn't the best with numbers--or Hogwarts could run under a different system altogether. I believe those have been brought up before.

Also, for them to be siblings--it's too obvious. Half of the readers have cracked the "code" to this. The obvious isn't the most likely, particularly with Rowling. That's the main reason why I dislike such theories.

[dantares]

Well, but I still feel that Hermione is older than Harry. I don't see why she must be younger. She may not be Harry's sister but she defintely older.

[Thayet]

I very much doubt Harry and Hermione are brother and sister. For one thing, hermione is muggleborn for sure, and Harry isn't. Although they are both brilliant in their own ways, they are the best of friends. Although I believe Harry may, may have a brother or sister, I doubt its anyone we know. If there will be a brother or sister to Harry, then it will be a new character, and they will be introduced and then developed into Harrys long lost brother, or indeed sister.

As to age wise, I'm not sure. You cannot tell from a person's actions who is older, at least not in this case, compared to a baby, yes, but two teenagers in the same year group you would need to know the birth dates to know which was older. Or their ages, at the same time after one had changed.

[Caenne]

Hmm...interesting theory. I'm re-reading the books (for about the hundredth time) and I really don't see any evidence to support the fact that Hermione is anything to Harry but an extremely close friend. For people who say, "But look how she takes care of him," or "She knows so much about him," well, I have tons of guy friends that I know a lot about and take care of. And as for reading up on him, I never got the impression that she actually set out to research Harry, she just came across his name while she was trying to learn more about the world she was going to become a part of. Harry is, after all, quite an important person in it, and I have a feeling Hermione knows quite a bit about lots of still-living famous witches/wizards because of all the reading she does. Besides, if Lily had been pregnant twice, don't you think SOMEONE would have noticed, besides her husband? I mean, the Potters were fairly popular, from what I understand. (Not like, hitting the parties every night popular, but everyone liked them cuz they were just that nice and cool - type popular) And we are told that we will learn something important about LILY in the next book, not something about LILY AND JAMES.

As for Hermione being older or younger than Harry, I always assumed she was younger. It says in PoA that her birthday is in September, at least, her parents give her money to buy herself an 'early' present the day before the kids go back to Hogwarts (Sept. 1). Maybe it's just from being in an American school where the cutoff was Sept. 30 (my brother's birthday is the 6th and he was always the youngest in his class - I was told the cutoff was the end of September because of all the babies that are born in that month) but I just figured that Ron was the oldest and Hermione was the youngest. As someone pointed out earlier, Hermione certainly didn't act like a 15-year-old girl during GoF! At least not like any 15-year-old I have ever known!

[Thayet]

That is a very good point Caenne, and a detailed opinion, which has now made me sure that Hermione is indeed younger, as I suspect Harry is one of the older boys of his year. Although he was 11 on that birthday, and they're usually picked when they are 11, so for all we know Hermione could have been 12 in september, or the theoretical age for this, so in the end, we still dont know for sure whether Hermione is younger or older than Harry.

[Fuchsia]

That is true. I always think of the American cutoff points. I was born 9 days late or I would have been in the year ahead of me.

There just isn't anyway that Lily had another child.
Why wouldn't THEY be put with the Dursleys? Only Harry had to suffer with them? No way.

[dantares]

There just isn't anyway that Lily had another child.
Why wouldn't THEY be put with the Dursleys? Only Harry had to suffer with them? No way. [/B]

When I first heard of this theory, I used to think of that too. Why didn't Hermione or anyone for that matter go with Dursleys? Why would they separate them? Another question is that why didn't they send Harry away after he was born? These questions can be answered.
1) Hermione/Someone was not send to the Dursleys because Petunia never liked them. They send her off because they were afraid that someone might killed her. They wanted to send her to the Dursleys but Lily knows that Petunia hates her. So they send Hermione to someone respectable.
2) They did not send Harry away because Lily is filled with grief after they send Hermione away. They wanted to protect Harry themselves. I have a feeling that Harry is a premature baby. He was always described as small and skinny. This is a sign of a premature baby.

[Fuchsia]

Originally posted by dantares
When I first heard of this theory, I used to think of that too. Why didn't Hermione or anyone for that matter go with Dursleys? Why would they separate them? Another question is that why didn't they send Harry away after he was born? These questions can be answered.
1) Hermione/Someone was not send to the Dursleys because Petunia never liked them. They send her off because they were afraid that someone might killed her. They wanted to send her to the Dursleys but Lily knows that Petunia hates her. So they send Hermione to someone respectable.

Petunia hated Harry too. Harry was alive for a full year before this happened and they never wanted to see him.



Originally posted by dantares

2) They did not send Harry away because Lily is filled with grief after they send Hermione away. They wanted to protect Harry themselves. I have a feeling that Harry is a premature baby. He was always described as small and skinny. This is a sign of a premature baby.

If they were protected by a secret keeper than Hermione would supposedly be safer with them. They would just get to Hermione to get to them. She'd be used as a lure.

I don't think that Hermione could possibly be Harry's sister.

[hermiowninny]

If Hermione was really Muggle-born, then how did she know how to do magic BEFORE she came to Hogwarts? Also, could she really have memorized Hogwarts, A History, in the short time between purchasing her books and riding the Hogwarts Express? Another thing, how could her Muggle-born parents take her shopping in Diagon Alley?

Many in this thread have stated that Hermione never did magic without a wand, which proves she is Muggle-born. Where in the books are you informed of this, and anyway, how does this prove she is Muggle-born?

[Fuchsia]

Hermione got her letter as soon as it came and studied up before school started.
Wouldn't you if you had such a letter? I'd want to learn everything I possibly could.

[dantares]

How could Hermione or all the muggle borns ever know how to get to Diagon Alley, Platform 9 and 3/4 always puzzles me. Do they all have Hagrid to bring them around or what? I supposed they have. Btw, Dumbledore sends Harry to the Dursleys because he wanted Harry to be protected by ancient magic. The whole magic community knows about Harry so it's not wise to send Harry back to Hermione's parents. Harry needs to be protected (since he's the boy who lived). That's what I thought. I used to think that Hermione's over concern on Harry is because she likes him. Then I realised that Hermione does not like Harry just as Harry does not like her. The reason why Hermione is over concern for Harry is because she feels/knows that is a bond between them. It would be a great twist if Voldemort's sister turns out to be Jame's mother and Harry becomes Hermione's little brother. Harry will marry Ron's little sister and Ron will marry Harry's elder sister. Haw Haw Haw.

[Reb]

All this is all good and well, but the chances of such a thing been brought to light is just unrealistic. Think about it. They (who ever knew about this) would not keep this from Harry and Hermione for so long. That is also true to the fact that J.K. would probably have revealed this already or at least gave out some hints or something by now.

In the end it matters not, I'm sure all will be happy no matter what happens. But yes, it sure makes you think. But luckily Logic always wins.

[littledrummerboy]

I love this theory!! It certainly would be a great turn out.

[Mr. Granger]

I think kgonekrazy watched too much Starwars ;)
Luke = Harry
Han = Ron
Lea = Hermione

while Lea being Luke´s sister, both having been separated to protect them from the emperor = Voldemort :)

[HbAznKyootie]

i dont think JK will make them related because its practicly the same thing as star wars. even though we're suppose to expect the unexpected, JK is smart to know that tons of fans will be disgruntled because they wanted to read something original, not borrowed. good theory anyways :)

[gred&forge4ever]

I have not read all of the posts yet. I don't think Harry and Hermione will turn out to be brother and sister. It would be too much of a ripoff form Star Wars, and JK is so much better thatn that

[Padfoot127]

there's no way that hermione is pure blood! why would the basilisk have gone after her? it was goin after muggle-borns, member? plus isn't she younger than harry? i always thought it was ron in march, harry in july, and hermione in september. i dunno i just think i'm missin something here.....

wouldn't sirius or dumledore have told them they were siblings?
and what about the whole rita skeeter's love article on the two of them?

[LizardLaugh]

I don't have a strong opinion on Harry and Hermione being brother and sister one way or another. I think it is a stretch, a BIG stretch, but if it were pulled off well it may not come off so Star Warsy. I'm not a fan of the idea, but I figure anything is possible.

The REAL reason for my post are these two issues regarding Hermione:

Hermione never doing magic without a wand -- I don't remember that being said anywhere in the books. Surely she showed magic potential at some point before getting her letter and practicing.

The other is people keep mentioning that Hermione didn't act like a 15 year old in GoF... impyling that she was being immature in GoF. Sorry, she was light years ahead of the boys in this one in terms of maturity. What did she do that was so immature to make at least two people in this thread say she couldn't be? I don't think it matters too much if she is 10 months older than Harry or two months younger, it is just that I don't understand what Hermione did in GoF that was so immature.

In the US, when I started school, the cut off was similar to the British way -- you had to be 5 when school started. There may have been an actual day -- like labor day or Sept 1st, but anyway -- I had several friends who were almost a year older due to having early birthdays. Now, my sister (who has a child who will 5 *just* before the cut off) tells me that if they are born within a certain range (like august through october) you can send them or hold them -- your choice. I think this is probably a good idea. Some kids are really mature, and some aren't. At that age, a few months makes a difference. With the older kids, I don't think it makes as big a difference -- especially if they have been with the same age group all their lives.

[Tarawyn]

It's not much of a question that girls mature earlier than boys, but...my assumption was on the part that she acted more like the people I know to be my own age than the numerous people I know older than me, and that socially, she was falling very far behind. I realize belatedly that this might have to do with a) her choice of friends and b) her general personality, but I hold to my statement that if she had been twelve when the books started, it would have been made clear. She's matured lightyears since then, but that says nothing about the initial reaction.

As for school cutoffs...my distict cuts in December, births before that in one year and births after in another. From what I've heard, the cutoffs do vary, and until Rowling confirms something, we're in the dark about it.

[Puffskein]

Here in Britain the cutoff is 1st September. I have a friend who was born on 5th September in the year before me, who was in my year at school. Of course, Hogwarts may be different.

I may have forgotten what I was like when I was 15, but I think if Hermione was older it would explain her general precocity with schoolwork and Krum's interest in her.

[LizardLaugh]

Tarawyn -- that is just it. In GoF, she does act 15 (or for that matter, 16 or 17 -- I don't think her actual age is that important, I just don't think she acted immature). She's dating a boy who is much older. We don't see her private life outside of the time she spends with Harry, but she does spend a great deal of time with her school work. She probably worries about the typical things girls worry about, but because her best friends are boys, and because it is from HArry's point of view -- we just don't see it. We get glimpses, like with her teeth and the get up at the ball. We also see her reactions to when Rita Skeeter goes after her -- she very maturely doesn't let it get to her. She sees VERY clearly that Ron has gone sweet on her, and that his anger at Krum is over HER, not Harry. She does like boys, and after her shouting match with Ron and how she shows up to the ball, I think it is clear she wants them to see her as woman. She sees Trelawney for the fraud she is and has the guts to stand up to her, despite her being a teacher. Granted, that was in PoA, but I think that was very mature. In fact, I can't think of anything she did that would indicate she was immature.

[venus1818]

I'm sorry but I really cannot believe that theory. I really can't. I don't think that the evidence given are enough to prove that. I will only believe it if JKR says it herself.

[familiar]

I find it hard to believe that Harry and Hermione could be related, but there have been some interesting arguments about it here. I remember the debates back before Return of the Jedi came out about Leia possibly being Lukes sister. A lot of people thought it was crazy. Boy were we shocked! I do hope JKR doesn't do this.

As for birthdates, my friend's sister was born in January, and she was born the same year in December (they were in different grades). I worked with a woman who also had two children within 11 months. But I agree 10 months would be pushing it.

[dtpoet]

"Think about it. They (who ever knew about this) would not keep this from Harry and Hermione for so long"--Reb Nov 17th

Ah..but Dumbledore sees the big picture. If Harry, as I believe he suspects, is to be the "savior" of their world in the years to come, then he must not be influenced by outside sources. One of the reasons Harry was sent to the Durlseys was that Dumbledore wanted him far, far away from the magical world. Why? To prevent him from living in the light of fame. Harry would not be as warm and gracious as he is now if people were gawking at him and following around everyday.

Stop and ponder this...When McGonagall is talking to Dumbledore at the very beginning of HPSS, she states on page 13 of the soft cover American version; "He'll be famous---a legend---I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in the future". Well, why isn't there a "Harry Potter Day"? Simply, because Dumbledore feared that having such a day would one day, perhaps, alter Harry's personality. After all, look what became of Lockhart.

Now to answer Reb's question. Why wouldn't Dumbledore tell Harry that Hermione was his sister? Another strong influence that would affect someone's decision making would be...family. If it came down to a situation of saving his sister or the magical world, Harry might be influenced to choose his sister. Dumbledore can not risk that. The magical world can not risk that.

Also, If it were widely known that they were bro/sis, then Volde could use that to his advantage and create such a situation. If only Dumbledore knows, then it can not be revealed otherwise. If something should happen to Dumbledore, then the secret would die with him...and Volde will be none the wiser.

Can you imagine if you thought you didn't have any relatives (that cared about you)? Suddenly, one day, you find out you do. You might risk anything and everything to secure that person's existence. Emotionally, you may not be able to afford to let that cord be cut. Dumbledore can not risk that happening.

This is why they haven't been told. I believe it is possible for Hermione and Harry to be bro/sis. However, I do not believe Hermione knows...she may suspect...but she doesn't know.

I theorize that in Book 5 it will be revealed that Harry had a sibling. However, he will be told that this sibling died before his birth...perhaps at it's birth. The gender of the child will not be revealed. Other adults may know that Lily had another child before Harry, but also presume the child to be dead...or a stillborn. Of course, this is when Hermione was sent to and adopted by the Grangers. Possibly, even the Grangers don't know. Perhaps, only Dumbledore, Lily, and James knew that the child was very much alive. Since Lily and James are dead, that only leaves Dumbledore to keep that secret guarded until a time when he sees fit to reveal it.

That theory just came to me. I'm liking it. Anyone else?

dtpoet

[dtpoet]

"there's no way that hermione is pure blood! why would the basilisk have gone after her?"---Padfoot 127

Ah--but do we really know for sure the basilisk was after Hermione? Hermione was not alone after all...was she? Penelope was there. How can we be sure that the basilisk's intended target was in fact Penelope and not Hermione? Hermione simply could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

dtpoet

[Ashkins]

I don't think the basilisk knows the difference pure blood or not. I think the basilisk does as the person who controls it tells it to do.

It is an interesting theory .. but if I had lost a child or given one up I would not even think about making another baby 6 weeks after the birth. I can't see Lily as emotionally strong enough to do that. 90% of all women aren't.
As well as all the other stuff going on with Voldemort. Too much stress..

[dtpoet]

{the scene is in Dumbledore's office near the end of "Phoenix"}

Harry sat uncomfortably in the chair, an uneasy expression across his face.

"Is there something troubling you, Harry?" asked Dumbledore quietly.

Harry shifted in his chair again.

"Well---Professor Lupin mentioned, I think it slipped, that I
had---," Harry gazed up at Dumbledore and found a rather puzzled expression had come across it. "that I had...a sibling."

Professor Dumbledore just stared back at Harry, his chin resting in his palm. Two fingers stretched across his closed lips. He rub his chin for what seemed like an eternity to Harry.

"He said that did he?" remarked Dumbledore. "Well Harry, i'm not sure if was as much as a slip as you may suspect."

Harry immediately realized that Dumbledore was attempting to divert the subject awayf rom Harry's inquiry.

"Well," Harry woul dnot remove his gaze from Dumbledore eyes. "Have I?"

Dumbledore continued to stroke his chin as he gazed back at Harry who twisted uncomforably in his again. However, he was resolved to get his answer. He could sense that Dumbldore sensed this as well.

Then, Dumbledore raised his head off his chin, but never took his eyes away. He let out a huge sigh as if some invisible weight had been lifted.

"I can say with quite certainty that I was not expected this. Not now anyway." Dumbledore began to slowly nod his head as he leaned in toward Harry and peered over his glass. "Yes. Yes you had."

Harry's discomfort had suddenly turned to slight anger.

"How come you haven't told me this before?" Harry said forcibly. "Why have you been keeping this a secret?" his voice began to rise in volume as he stood up from his chair. "You of all people know how much I have missed my family!"

Dumbledore sat patiently with his hands folded in front of him on the desk.

"Who is she? Where can I find him?" Harry demanded as he pounded his fists on Dumbledore's desk.

Dumbledore only sat still as Harry, breathing heavily, seethed with rage before him.

"Listen to me for a moment, Harry." Dumbledore said calmly when he finally spoke. He motioned Harry to sit down again, which he did almost automatically. "You have every right to be upset---but I have my reasons. You need--"

But Harry's anger had gotten the better of him as he cut off Dumbeldore's words. "Where is----" but he was turn turn cut off as Dumbeldore raised his hand in a demand for silence.

"Listen to my words if you will Harry," Dumbledore continued, "Had...You had a sibling."

Harry ponder that for a moment as his eyes gazed aimlessly around the room. "What does that mean?"

Dumbledore sighed again. "Before you were born, your mother had another child. Sadly, this child...your sibling...did not survive. It was dead upon its' birth...still-born."

{Okay...that's all I have for now. Maybe I'll edit and add on later.}

{dtpoet}

[venus1818]

dtpoet, that's great, but maybe that thread should go to The Library.

Though the text is great, I don't agree with your theory. I think that Hermione's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Granger and that there is no mistery about that!

[go_anna40]

The idea of Hermione being Harry's brother could be possible for all we know. Even though I don't quite believe it, I think it's pretty cool- there's a surprise that be'll unexpected.

[Sirius Black]

Nooooooooooo way. Can you first tell me what they have in common???? Green eyes??? I don't think so. Bushy hair??? Neither that. They have absolutely nothing in common. They're just friends.And sometimes, when Hermione hugs him or somehing, he blushes like any boy would do if non family girl hugged you. It's impossible. Nooooo way. The book would then become tooo stupid. And how come he never saw her in his dreams, like when he sees his parents. And she's just a few months older than him. Not even 9 months. How could he have been born so fast??

[Myrddin]

From the perspective of character relationships it is certainly possible at this time to make a number of valid comparisons between Star Wars and HP. Disclosing Hermione as Harry's sister would pretty much complete that comparison and make the two stories isomorphic with one another in my humble opinion. The JKR we know is far more inventive than this and is of course going to deliver the unexpected.

[Sirius Black]

Yes, but without the possibility of Hermione and Harry being siblings. JKr's original, she won't copy some old stuff.

[dtpoet]

You can already draw many comparisons between the stories both in plot and characterization(sic). Luke didn't know he was a jedi until he was older much like Harry. Luke and Harry both lived with their aunt and uncle. They both have extradinary talents that will some day save the world.

Of course, there are differences as well.

I don't see the big deal if Harry and Hermione are bro/sis. I think it would actually be kind of cool. Literature is full of borrowed stories. Shakespeare borrowed from Greeks. Modern authors borrow from Shakespeare. It's all relative. Plot and characters are borrowed all the time. Nobody complains about that. It's literature. It's history. From the dawn of mankind, humans have taken stories they previously knew and added their own twists and turns. Then, those stories are taken and turned into something else.

Listen, one day someone took an apple and said, "I can eat this as it is". Then, someone took an apple, mashed it up, and made applesauce. Then, someone took an apple, sliced it, added sugar, placed into a fire, and made a pie. Then someone took an apple and ice cream to it. Bottomline...it's still an apple. Literature works exactly the same way.

Even if Harry and Hermione are bro/sis, JKR has still effectly created a unique world full of interesting characters. The plot is still wonderful and delightful. Yea, maybe it is a little to close as far as generations go. However, it doesn't take away from the fact that I still want...need to know...what happens to these characters and how they eventually triumph over evil. I still want to see Harry grow.

Look, this is the greatest story of our generation. Even a major plot twist like the one we have been discussing doesn't take anything away from its' genius. At least, not for me any way.

dtpoet

[dorcasderr]

Ho ho ho! I don't believe Harry & Hermione to be siblings, but if they were....what if one of them is celebrating the wrong birthday, one made up for the puposes of obfuscation? What if, as in Star Wars, they are actually twins....After all both names start with "H". (I don't BELIEVE any of this, but I just thought I would stir up the pot a little.)

[harryton]

i really dont think she did have two kids. Everything had been revolved around harry potter only.

[GodricSlytherin]

HErmione does. Show the non muggle of herself. I think she may be a true witch. Possible. That she is his sister. VEry out there.

[GodricSlytherin]

Somebody ahs to be related to HArry. I think someone has to be related. I know that JK will find someone related. Someone that HArry can feel like he belongs except for Sirius. But like a far relation. Possibly DD himself. OR. Maybe. Some other person.

[Elangomatt]

One little point from the books I want to point out on this topic. In PS when the trio is looking for something about Nicholos Flamel, Ron says to Hermione "You can ask you parents. I'd be safe to ask them".

One interpretation (pretty extreme) is that Ron somehow knows that Hermione's dentist parents are actually wizard and witch protecting Hermione (who may or may not be their daughter). I don't know how Ron, or even his dad, would know about this though.

The more sensible interpretation of course is that since Ron asks his parents (mostly dad) about alot of stuff like that he just carried that trait over to Hermione when her parents would have no idea who Flamel was.

[Mimi]

Could be possible, but i don't think so:rolleyes: :whistle: :grumble: :smile:

[Sirius Black]

It will not be possible. It impossible. NO WAY. I don't think this will happen. (no offence) The story will become tooo dramatic. I don't like that.

[venus1818]

It will not be possible. It impossible. NO WAY. I don't think this will happen. (no offence) The story will become tooo dramatic. I don't like that.

I totally agree with this. I think that they are not related!

[hplover_ginny]

i think its very unlikely that they are related..but they do seem to click :hug: :love: *winkwink*

[FawkesBox]

I have read some pretty good articulations of this theory and although I am not so convinced as to take it as fact-- it would not overly surprise me.

[jordmundt6]

Okay, I have to agree with Sirius here. Hermione is Muggle-born, her parents are the essence of Mugglehood (but positively, as the Evans were). I do think that Harry will have to be related to someone (very distantly) in order for Dumbledore to consent to permanently moving Harry of Privet Drive. Dumbledore knows the protective barrier around Privet Drive is impenetrable and he would not let magic's greatest hope voluntarily discard that protection unless he could work up something equally powerful to protect Harry somewhere else. I think that is remotely possible that Lily's father is, or is the son of Molly Weasley's accountant second cousin. The connection is weak enough that Molly might not even be aware of it and that Dumbledore spoke the truth in Book 1, but strong enough to set up an ancient familial magic barrier around the Burrow. And it does appear that Harry will be moving there over the summer.

Any thoughts? Don't kill the messenger, I just htought I'd just toss it up here.

[Aria Angel]

Ok, I am not big on them being siblings. But I have to say that Hermione is DEFINITELY older. For 2 reasons.

1. She was born on Sept 19th.
2. Hogwarts sends letters to the kids on their 11th birthday.

Hermione could not have possibly gotten her letter after school started on September 1st.

So, yes she is 10 months older than Harry, but that doesnt necessarily make them related.

Aria

[Katze]

Originally posted by kgonekrazy (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=48048#post48048))
1- Hermione is ten months older then Harry, which makes it possible.


As it turns out, Rowling apparently says on the COS DVD ( I know it's the movie, but it's from her ) that Hermione actually turned 11 in September of their first year at Hogwarts.

Now the Lexicon has Ron born in March of 1980, and Harry born in July of 1980. And the new timeline that Rowling gives us puts Hermione born in September of 1980.

So I think the way it works is -
your birth year determines the summer in which you'll receive your letter. It doesn't matter when in that year you are born, you'll attend Hogwarts starting the fall of the calendar year in which you'll turn 11.

So if your birthday was December 31st 1980, then you'll begin Hogwarts in the fall of 1991 (same year as the trio). But if you are born January 1st 1981, then you'll begin Hogwarts the fall of 1992.

This is pure speculation on my part...

[Aria Angel]

If that's the case then JKR is contradicting herself...

According to Mugglenet Book 5 Facts which quotes interviews with JKR

"A magical quill detects the birth of every magical child, and records it in a book; Professor McGonagall sends an owl to each child when he or she turns 11. (12) "

So I guess she cant make up her mind LOL

Aria

[ahsweape]

Originally posted by Aria Angel (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=272848#post272848))
If that's the case then JKR is contradicting herself...

According to Mugglenet Book 5 Facts which quotes interviews with JKR

"A magical quill detects the birth of every magical child, and records it in a book; Professor McGonagall sends an owl to each child when he or she turns 11. (12) "

So I guess she cant make up her mind LOL

Aria



Or it's a simple case of Mugglenet getting the quote wrong.

[Alastor D]

As far as I can understand "turn eleven" need not necessarily refere to the exact birthday, it may as well mean the yaer in which they turn eleven. I don't see the contradiction here.

And, remember. JKR said we will never see Harry's parents alive. Hermiones parents we have seen very much alive, in CoS. They can't be even halfsiblings.

[ahsweape]

I also feel that since Rowling said that Mcgonagall checks the book "every year," this means she only checks the book once a year Therefore it would be awfully hard to send a letter to everyone exactly on their birthday.

[Jessica]

Okay I didnt write this, I found it on http://www.harrypotterfacts.com/

I'm not convinced, but its an interesting argument.


This last part is probably the most speculative and uncertain of all !
Voldemort himself certainly thinks that Harry is the last descendant of his sister, and thus the last obstacle between himself and immortality. But maybe he is wrong.

Consider this story :
James Potter is feeling very worried, as never before in his life...
He has just left school and married Lily. and Dumbledore has considered it was time for him to know the terrible secret.
So, the Dark Lord's true family name is "Riddle", just as his own mother. Now, James knows he is the last relative of Voldemort ; and he knows he is Voldemort's target for that reason.
What can he do then ? James has great courage, but the future of all mankind is at stake, not only his own life !
If Voldemort ever finds him, and kills him, then all will be lost :
the Dark Lord will be immortal, and no one - not even Dumbledore - will ever be able to defeat him ! The Age of Darkness will begin ! And it will last forever !
Unless..
Of course ! There is only one thing he can do !
The Potters understand that they should have children, several children if possible, and as soon as possible. Furthermore, they should not keep all their children in the same place.

So, I think it is at least a possibility that Harry might have a brother or sister, who the Potters would have hiden as soon as he or she was born, and who would have lived with adoptive parents ever since.

I know... supposing that Hermione is Harry's sister would be very Star-Wars-like. and yet, why not ?

Could Hermione be Harry's sister ? Is it even possible ? We know she was born in September, and Harry was born in July. It seems logical to suppose that Hermione is 10 months older than Harry rather than 2 months younger (so that they were both 11 years old on Sept. 1st, the year they entered Hogwarts).
In that case, the brother-sister theory is not completely impossible. a 10 month difference (nearly 10.5 months in fact) is a very short time indeed, but remember I suppose James and Lily were in a hurry !

Harry and Hermione. Is there only frienship between them ? Or something else ? Anyway, they are very close friends at the very least!
Ron and Hermione are quite obviously attracted to each other ; their quarrels and reconciliations might be an indication that they will end up together. or maybe not.
The Harry-Hermione relation is very different : they seem somehow "naturally", almost instinctively close to each other. Quite often, each of them seems to be knowing what the other has in mind.
I think this should mean something important :
- Either it means that they will fall in love in the next books. and end up together. This is a real possibility, and the kiss Hermione gives to Harry at the end of book 4 might be a beginning, but I reckon a Ron-Hermione romance is more probable.
- Or it means that there is "something else" between them. Of course, the brother-sister theory would fit perfectly !

So, let us see. If Harry and Hermione are siblings, then the Grangers are Hermione's adoptive parents. Maybe they are really Muggles, maybe just pretending.
Who knows the truth about Hermione ?
Obviously, Harry has no clue ; I think Dumbledore knows the truth, as do a few teachers (at least Lupin and McGonagall, see the hints below) and probably Sirius. The Grangers must know. and my little idea is that HERMIONE HERSELF knows the truth !!! After all, we know Hermione is able to keep a secret (remember the Time-Turner in book 3).

All this is pure speculation. So, it is time for some hints to support the "Harry and Hermione brother and sister" theory :

- A minor physical resemblance : they are both unable to comb their hair.

- At the beginning of book 1, before Harry and Hermione become friends, before they even really know each other, Hermione's behaviour is a bit excessive : she keeps interfering in Harry's affairs, much more than in anyone else's affairs (even Ron's) :
"I can't believe you are going to do this, Harry."
(Harry and Ron are leaving Griffindor's Tower together, why does she say that to Harry only ?)
I know it's Hermione's nature to be quite interfering, but I think this is a bit too much. However, if Harry is her little brother, and if SHE KNOWS IT, her behaviour is understandable.

- BIG HINT : In book 2, just after Hermione and Penelope have been petrified. Professor McGonagall goes straight to Harry :
"Potter, I think you'd better come with me."
Why ? I don't think it is just because he is Hermione's friend : she would have asked Ron as well. But no, she doesn't care about Ron. she starts returning to the castle (and to Hermione) with Harry. Only when Ron comes running up to them, does she agree :
"Yes, perhaps you'd better come too, Weasley." (note the "perhaps...too.").
Quite strange, isn't it ? But if McGonagall knows that Hermione and Harry are siblings, her behaviour is normal !

- In book 3, in Lupin's class with the Boggart. All students fight the Boggart except Harry and Hermione. We know why Lupin didn't allow Harry : he was afraid (wrongly) that the Boggart would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort. But why, WHY didn't he allow Hermione to fight the Boggart ?
Well. Lupin is an old friend of James Potter ; so if Hermione is the Potters' daughter, he probably knows it ; I suppose he was afraid that if he allowed Hermione to fight the Boggart in public, the shape it would assume could reveal something, a secret about her past.
And by the way, when Hermione finally fights a Boggart during her exam, no one but her can see what shape it assumes. did she tell the truth about that ? (Her little story is a bit ridiculous.)

- In book 4, at the Three Broomsticks pub, when Rita Skeeter tries to get an interview from Harry one last time.
About Hagrid, Rita asks Harry :
"Would you call him a father substitute ?"
Hermione's reaction is extremely violent ; she stands up "very abruptly, her Butterbeer clutched in her hand as though it was a grenade."
Why ? After all, these words were nothing worse than what Rita had been saying before.
Obviously, it is the words "father substitute" that caused Hermione's reaction. I reckon this is because SHE has been raised by adoptive parents. and knows it !

- I wonder why Hermione wanted to study Muggles during her third year.
OK, she explains that :
"it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view"
but is that really the truth ?
Are the Grangers real Muggles, or just pretending ?

- In book 1, when Hermione and Harry meet for the very first time in the train. Just after Harry has introduced himself, she says something a bit peculiar :
".I'd have found out everything I could if it was me."
I don't think anyone else ever says something like that to Harry.
"If it was me". "If I was the one who once defeated the Dark Lord".
Does she mean it could have been her ???

- More about this first time Harry and Hermione meet in the train.
I suspect Hermione of kidnapping Trevor the toad for a moment, just to send Neville looking around and have a good reason to enter Harry's compartment.
Hey ! If she knew her little-brother-she-had-never-seen-before-but-had-thought-of-so-often was in the train, she wanted to see him immediatly !


Objection : Dumbledore has said that the Dursleys are Harry's only left family (same objection as in Part 1 above).
Answer : here is what Dumbledore exactly says :
- " I've come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. They're the only family he has left now. "
Given the context, I suppose Dumbledore means " the only family that can take care of him ". Little 2-year-old Hermione is a bit too young to take care of her brother !
OK, she is brilliant. but nobody is THAT brilliant ;-)
However, if Dumbledore's words are to be interpreted literally, then it means Vernon and Petunia are Harry's only living relatives. As I have explained in Part 1, Harry can still be related to Voldemort, but not to Hermione : in that case, she can't be his sister.
But I don't think one should interpret Dumbledore's words literally
here : doing so would imply that Dudley ISN'T the Dursley's son. very hard to believe !!!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[nfh_aftran]

Darn it, do you people read the books?! I am SURE that Hermione and Harry are not related. First off, Hermione is MUGGLE-BORN. Proof, you ask. Well, in the second book, she is petrified. The Basalisk attempted to kill muggle borns(he didn't kill Ginny Weasly), not wizards born from wizard families. Second, J.K. Rowling is not a cheesy good for nothing writer. She has talent. She wouldn't put something so tactless, so thoughtless into her books. - BIG HINT : In book 2, just after Hermione and Penelope have been petrified. Professor McGonagall goes straight to Harry :
"Potter, I think you'd better come with me."
Why ? I don't think it is just because he is Hermione's friend : she would have asked Ron as well. But no, she doesn't care about Ron. she starts returning to the castle (and to Hermione) with Harry. Only when Ron comes running up to them, does she agree :
"Yes, perhaps you'd better come too, Weasley." (note the "perhaps...too.").
Quite strange, isn't it ? But if McGonagall knows that Hermione and Harry are siblings, her behaviour is normal !

Well, Hermione and Ron always fight. McGonagall probably knows they're sort of friends, but she doesn't know they're best friends.

Lily and James potter wouldn't have 2 kids by the time they were 22. I really really really really really really don't think they would.

About the prophecy thing......J.K. Rowling is kind of against being born to do something, to have a destiny before you knew anything. You write your own future. J.K. Rowling likes to surprise her fans, but she won't deny what she points out so often.

[zoeydsngwrtr]

First. I think it is a possiblity, but I don't see it happening. Too much of a repeat from Star wars.
Second, I think that it was purely a coincidence that the baselisk got all mud bloods.
Third. you made some good points Jessica, but like I said, too much like Star Wars.

[Sredni Vashtar]

Harry and Hermione could not be siblings. Especially if J.K.Rowling is as imaginative as everyone believes her to be. The reason? Harry and Hermione being related would be far too Star Wars (or any soap opera you can name). As much as I like the whole Luke and Leia thing, it just wouldn't work well in the Harry Potter stories.

I always had the impression that Hermione was younger than Harry and Ron. I never really noticed when her birthday is supposed to be, but she certainly acts a bit younger than her two friends - in the first book, at least. She appears to be older in the other books because she seems to be maturing faster. But then, girls actually do mature faster than boys. Apart from her natural bossiness, this would explain why she is so frustrated by their behavior at times.

[HP_WizKid]

Im sorry and i dont want to be offensive but the thought of Harry and Hermione brother and sister ,i have to say is totally way off.I mean ok we can expect twists and strange things from JK.But if you think about really,just imagine it on the pages reading it yourself,no i just cant feel it happening .JK i dont think believes in that because its pretty predictable having harry related to someone he wouldnt expect.Plus its great all us fans making thoeries up and clue searching but of course well find little things out but anything like that if you think about it anything we make up like that is defiantly wrong because JK ,a brill author ,just think of what surprises shes given us ,i dont think anything we make up could possibly be near to JK's actual story.All we can do is look for clues from the book and try predict things but theres no proof/not enough proof to suggest that this would happen and im pretty certain it wont .JK will have a better surprise fro us ,dont you worry.Sorry to seem harsh but its fun reading things us fans predict anyays i enjoyed reading it.plus im hoping for a harry /hermione rlationship and i think that this is really possilbe.

[Phoenix_Fawkes]

no way to much like star wars sorry! i hope JK isnt that dumb!

[jordmundt6]

Um, excuse me. Jessica, is it? Hi. You said that "taking Dumbledore's words literally would mean that Dudley ISN'T the Dursleys' son!" Huh? Petunia is Lily's sister, therefore her husband and child/children would be Harry's relations. The only family he has left. Oh, and the math REALLY doesn't work for James' mother's maiden name to be Riddle. In order to be the right age (and not be really old--I htink 70 at the time is past child-bearing range for witches, but not by much and she would have been about 70 when James was born.) She would have to have been related to Marvolo--his sister? Marvolo's up in years when Tom is born and Tom is 30 years or more older than James. The math does not work.

[Jessica]

Okay, first of all I didn't write that. I said at the top that I copied it from another website.

Second, this is the author's logic:

Dumbledore: " I've come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. They're the only family he has left now. "

If D meant that literally then Dudley isn't their son because he isn't named. That's all he means.

Third: Voldemort is currently a little under 70. (16 in Book 2 + 50 years since the Chamber was opened + 3 years to Book 5) His older sister would be a little over 70 if she were still alive and if she existed in the first place. Harry is currently 15. 70 minus 15 is 55. Therefore if she had a child at 22 or 23 and Lily did the same, Harry could be the grandchild.

[Auri DeMeer]

I always found this theory pretty creative. A very good one, as a theory.
I'd love that Harry had a sister or brother. But why Hermione?

[Jessie]

Hm...somehow I think that Hermione is out of the question. Maybe if Harry ever DID have a sibling he/she will appear later. But 4 now...doesn't look like it. :shrug:

[jordmundt6]

Jessicacarstens--Sorry about the fanfic mix-up. But Voldie doesn't have an older anything. If he did, that sibling would have grown up in the orphanage with him. Marvolo's daughter only had one child (her son Tom who later became Voldemort). So, I was trying to add up the numbers not on an older sister, but on an AUNT, Tom's mother's obedient sister!

[Jessica]

Yeah sorry it was a long thins do I only stole the part about Hermione.

Here is the top part (which is less related to this thread)

Again, these aren't my ideas, they are from http://www.harrypotterfacts.com/

I just throught whoever wrote this argued this well, whether or not we choose to agree with him. . .



It has been often suggested that Voldemort might be Harry's real father (like Vader and Luke in " Star Wars "...) I do NOT think he is - I mean, I think Harry's father is James, and that James and Voldemort are two different persons - but I also think Harry and Voldemort ARE related.

There are many resemblances between them : they can both speak to snakes, they have "twin" magic wands, and there is also a real physical resemblance between Harry and Tom Riddle (young Voldemort). Dumbledore does explain (at the end of book 2) that some of Harry's traits (snake language for instance) might have been given to him
-most unwillingly- by Voldemort when he failed to kill him... much in the same way as he gave him his scar.
Maybe... however, we know there is a great physical resemblance between James and Harry, so there must have been a physical resemblance between James and young T. Riddle. This cannot be the result of the attack that gave Harry his scar ! So, my theory is that Voldemort and James Potter are related.

Now, remember Dobby at the beginning of book 2 :
- Harry asks Dobby if the warning he has just given to him has anything to do with You Know Who,
- Dobby answers : " No, not He Who Must Not Be Named ", but his eyes are wide open. he is trying to suggest something to Harry.
- We know what it is. the warning has something to do with Tom Riddle (and Tom Riddle CAN be named).
- Then, Harry asks Dobby another question : " He hasn't got a brother, has he ? " (strange question, by the way.is it only there to prepare a future revelation ?)
- Again, Dobby shakes his head, but again his eyes are wide open, wider than ever, as if he were trying to suggest something else to Harry, something most important : we still don't know what it is.

So, what would Dobby have said if he had been feeling free to speak ?

Here is my guess : Voldemort has no brother (so Dobby's answer is true, strictly speaking)... but he had a sister. Voldemort's sister married a wizard named Potter.
She became the mother of James Potter ! So, if I am correct, Voldemort is James' uncle, and Harry's great-uncle. As Dobby is Malefoy's house elf, he is likely to know about such a secret : Malefoy, after all, was in Voldemort's " inner circle ".

Another hint : when Harry first reads the name "Riddle" in the diary, he thinks he has never heard it before... and yet there is something familiar about that name :
".as though Riddle was a friend he'd had when he was very small".
Why ? The expression " when he was very small " must refer to the period when he was with his parents. Maybe he has heard about "grandmother Riddle" during the first year of his life !

Objection 1 : Voldemort's mother died when he was born.
Answer : no problem ; his sister must have been older than him.

Another hint to support this : Mrs Riddle (Voldemort's mother) hadn't told her husband she was a witch when they got married ; then, WHY did she have to tell him later, when she was pregnant ?
The answer could be : because the other child had begun showing magical talents ! (thanks to the person who suggested this idea)

[jordmundt6]

What? How does that work? Does she spring from his imagination or something? That just seems weird to me.

If Dobby had been free to speak he would have said the following:

Before He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named changed his name, he was called Tom Riddle. He did terrible things at Hogwarts. Now, his supporters want those things to happen again. And Harry's Potter's friends are in danger sir.

Sorry, didn't pick up Dobby's accent. He was trying to tell Harry that the villain could be named but that it was the same guy.

About "Mrs. Riddle" and the supposed older sibling. She could have just done the same thing that Seamus' mother did (wait until the honeymoon). In fact, I'm positive that's what she did do.

If there is an older sister, Where in blue blazes did she go? She would have been magical, so Dad wouldn't have wanted her. She'd have been in the orphanage and in school with her brother. This did not happen.

[lunchbox-hobbit]

While I believe that Hermione and Harry could be related, it is very unlikely. First of all, Hermione overcoming the whole "muggle borns arent as good as pure blood" thing is a majhor theme in the book that shows how it doesnt matter what your lineage is its what you choose to do with your life. Also, Harry and Hermione dont really look alike, and usually siblings look alike, so how could they be brother and sister?

[Hpmons]

I personally dont believe any of these "relatives" rumours.
A) Harry would have seen her in the Mirror of Erised
B) Dont look alike
C) Hermione role is the "muggleborn", so that Harry has a friend who is in danger from DEs. If she wasnt actually a muggleborn, it would ruin this.

The Dudley thing: The reason DD said "aunt and uncle" is because those are the people who would be looking after him. He wouldnt say "aunt, uncle and cousin" becuase:
- It is a mouthful
- Dudley wouldnt look after Harry
- He may not have even know Dudley

Harrys relationship with Voldermort:
- Would have seen him in the Mirror of Erised
- Dumbledore would know, and tell Harry
- Voldermort would know, and tell Harry
- How would Harry find out this?
- Too confusing for anyone to understand...

[FawkesBox]

This is a little pet theory of mine that I've been watching for a while. I think it is plausible but not very likely.. Can't wait until June 21st

[jordmundt6]

How is this plausible from what we've seen in the books or even heard hinted? WHERE? Give me something. ANYTHING! I'll consider it I'll even applaud the find. Just show me something!

Very sorry to yell but this is one of those way-out-there already disproved theories like James is alive in Remus Lupin's body. Buschwa. James is dead, we saw his shade come out of Voldie's wand. He's dead. That's it.

This is the same thing. Harry is their first kid there are no pictures of another kid, they were too young to have really had another kid (unless Lily "got in trouble" at school which I highly doubt). If we assume Lily would have been the same age as severus (36 now) which is a safe bet since they were in the same year at Hogwarts... Then she would have been 22 when Harry was born and probably 21 when he was conceived. That's just about as young as married couples have kids. There's no room for another kid to be born. And Harry isn't a twin.

But if you can show me something I'd respect it and I'd congratulate you because you caught something I totally missed. Just point me to it. Thanks for putting up with my ramble.

[GrangerGal]

Even though I do not think this theory is plausible here is a bit of help:
Both of them have very unruly brown hair which could be genetic. I have crazy curly hair and my brother's hair sticks up all over all b/c of genetics!
Just thought I would play a little devil's advocate for the other side since most people don't agree with the idea.

[jordmundt6]

Oh, but the rest of their facial features, characteristics? Hermione isn't short for her age, Harry is. They both have unruly hair but its a different shade and Lily's hair is supposed to be dark red (though where people are pulling this from I have absolutely no idea). Hermione has never hinted for a second that she's adopted and her parents seem to care about her as their own. Also, how could she be identified as a Mudblood or muggle-born if that were the case. And if she were adopted from a wizarding family wouldn't she throw that in Malfoy's face the first time he tried that epithet on her? If not her, then at least Ron would have, you can bet on it.

[GrangerGal]

I thought they were the same shade... brown... It isn't as if one has bleach blonde hair and one has jet black hair although stranger things have happened. Anyway I was just throwing that out there. Also if she is adopted that does not mean she knows about it. Sometimes people do not tell their children about their birth parents or that they are even adopted so who knows. I just thought I would help the other side out even though I can't find much more to support this idea. It is fun to speculate though! :) We have to do SOMETHING while we wait!

[jordmundt6]

I have a feeling that if the Potters left little Hermione on a doorstep they would have left a Dumbledore-esque explanation so that the dentists would have had a long chat with their daughter when the letters came. Amiable and caring, but still a long serious talk.

[GrangerGal]

I agree... Who knows it is just fun to make up things! I can't wait for the book anymore. All these ideas are making me a little batty that I am willing to contemplate anything now!

[FawkesBox]

Plausible because all of the evidence in the aforementioned link from www.harrypotterfacts.com

[jordmundt6]

I have similar problems but I like to throw out the obviously wrong stuff particularly the stuff that reads "THIS IS A CLONE OF STAR WARS" which it isn't. That's why I get a little frustrated.

[Strongy]

Originally posted by jordmundt6 (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=297125#post297125))
Harry isn't a twin.

how do we know that he hasn't got a twin ?

[jordmundt6]

I find it implausible to the point of being ridiculous that the entire magical community INCLUDING DUMBLEDORE would be unaware that Hermione is a full-blooded witch. Arthur or Lucius would have heard a ripple someplace by now. There's also the fact that Hermione looks nothing like Harry or either of Harry's parents (Lily has long dark-red hair). And if that were the case, Lucius would not have rebuked his son for permitting "a girl of no wizard family" to "beat [him] in every exam." There would have been some kind of placating--well, semi-placating explanation. Hermione's Muggle-born, Harry isn't. They aren't twins. And by the way, if they were--where was Hermione that Halloween night? Visiting her future dentist foster-parents. Seems to me that if there were two babies, there would have been two bundles for Hagrid to carry. I would expect a female Potter to be ignored, so I'm not lobbying for twins with matching scars, but there are just too many holes here.

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

Originally posted by FawkesBox (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=297187#post297187))
Plausible because all of the evidence in the aforementioned link from www.harrypotterfacts.com

I'll give the author credit for stipulating it's a "speculative and uncertain" theory right off the bat, but none of the evidence rises above the level of heavily circumstantial.

For instance:

A minor physical resemblance : they are both unable to comb their hair.

Hagrid can't do anything with his hair, either. Does that make him a secret uncle?

And:

In book 1, when Hermione and Harry meet for the very first time in the train. Just after Harry has introduced himself, she says something a bit peculiar : "I'd have found out everything I could if it was me."

What's peculiar about that? Hermione's established from the outset as someone with a thirst for knowledge, particularly about those things which pertain to her. When she found out she was a witch, she learned more about the world she was entering than Ron bothered to. If she'd found out she'd lost her parents to an evil wizard, of course she'd have tried to find out everything possible about that.

I'd also like to point out that if Hermione was Harry's sister, and the adults knew it, why wasn't anyone worried about Black going after her in PoA? James wouldn't have kept the fact he had a daughter from his best man and intended Secretkeeper, would he? And if James was her father, wouldn't Rowling have made her react with something other than "alarm" when Harry said he thought he saw him during the Time-Turner incident?

Anyway, as I've said in other threads, and jordmunt6 pointed out, it's too important to Rowling's other themes that Hermione be Muggleborn. To make her anything else would imply that Voldemort and the Malfoys are right, and someone without any pure blood whatsoever will never be able to accomplish anything of value.

[voldies_counsellor]

Of all the theories I've read, I disagree with this one the most I think. There is absolutely no evidence or even a hint that Harry and Hermione are related.

As for the age thing, Hogwarts school systems seems to mirror our English school system, down to the time of all the exams etc.
Over here, you start senior school in the SEPTEMBER AFTER YOU TURN 11, so yes, Hermione would probably be 12 a few weeks after she started. The cut-off point over here for all schools is September 1st as far as I'm aware.
I don't think Hermione can be younger. We have to take our GCSE's (equivalent to OWLS) the summer of the academic year we turn sixteen, ie. eceryone taking the exams in their fifth year must be 16 before Sept 1st which Hermione wouldn't be. I imagine it would be similar at Hogwarts as it seems JKR has based core elements of the school on her own experience of schooling over here (just as the ministry is a shrewd parallell to our government lol...)

As a mum-of-three I'm also gaping at the idea that one child was conceived a few weeks after another was born. Biologically possible perhaps, but likely? Not at all. Most women do not regain their fertility this early, and I doubt with Voldermort on the rampage they would want to be bringing too many children into the world.

I don't think Hary is related to Hermione, the Weasleys, Voldermort, it would just be a bit corny.
Just my thoughts (feel free to disagree!)

[x Natalie x]

good theory, but its waaaaaaaay out there. Ok, you say that Hermione is ten months older than Harry? Then why isnt she in her 6th year, instead of her 5th? Harry was born in July, so that would mean that Hermoine would have to have been born in Septmeber, making her almost one year older and in her 6th year. So, that makes me ask the question, why is she in her 5th year?

[Bee]

For some reason, the whole idea seems preposterous... I can't imagine Harry and Hermioen related... that would just be too, too wierd! Who knows, though... JKR could spring it on us...

[Lupin4499]

I highly doubt that Harry and Hermione are related. First of all, they look nothing at all like each other. Also, that would mess up the whole point of even though she is muggle-born she is still a great witch, which is a lot of the point in CoS.

[fiddelysquat]

Your argument is so nonsensical and based in utter nonsense that I won't even waste my time pointing out how impossible it is. I'll just say this: I will gnaw off my arm and sell it to you for 5 cents on e-bay if they turn out to be siblings.

[MoonyX]

I definately don't think Harry and Hermione are related. It just doesn't work. But what I don't understand is that if Hermione is 10 months older than Harry- why is she not a 6th year while Harry is a 5th year? I know it's kinda changing the subject but I don't understand how they works the birthdays and ages into the year they're in at Hogwarts.

[Kendra-McHenry]

To be honest, Hermione and Harry really can't be related. The theory of Hermione being orphaned from the prophecy also makes no sense, because the prophecy clearly states that it is about a boy born at the end of July. Clearly Hermione is female and is born in September, about 2 months later.
Hermione is most likely not a year older. She is very gifted, so why would she be held back? However, there may be a possibility that she is younger, because we learn she is born in 1980. Remember she is born in mid-end September,(19th) and the school term begins September 1st. Correct me if I am mistaken in British schooling ages: Now, according to OotP, Fred and George are legal adults when they are 17. In America, it is 18. So this means that if they go to school for 7 years, they start when they are 10. Now it is all rather confusing, because Harry is born in July. If you are born in July or August, you can either start school so you are older than everyone else, or younger than everyone else. He started so he was older. This means he is also born in 1980. If Lily were to get pregnant after Harry, it wouldn't be possible because she needs 9 months, or 40 weeks, to become fully pregnant, and Hermione is born 2 months later. Therefore, this is not possible.
On the flipside, they could still be related. Maybe not brother and sister, but cousins. We know of no relatives in the Potter family or the Granger family. Harry is also not pureblood, so the Evans(Lily's maiden name) could somehow be related to the Granger family. Just a character throw in, both Hermione and Harry have uncontrollable hair.;-).
So to conclude what I just said, Harry and Hermione cannot be brothers and sisters, but they could still have a relation.

[*Darth Voldemort*]

If Hermione was Harry's sister, than perhaps Ron has a furry ffriend called Chewbacca who happens to be a wookie! And right after Harry loses his right hand in a duel with Voldemort, we'll learn that Voldemort is his father.

If Hermione is indedd Harry's sister, the 7th and final book may be calles "Harry Potter and the Return of the Jedi". Would be such a cool title, huh?

[Cheetah]

That was adorable, Darth Voldemort.
But really, wasnt' there even a time line somewhere like Lexicon that said Hermione is NOT older?

[DarkMark90]

Ok...this theory doesn't sound possible but here it is anyway......

Harry and Hermione are really brother and sister who were separated at birth...........

When Lily and James were killed, Lily was killed we know from the movie.... but where was James?? We've heard Lily's voice so we know she is dead...not to mention that we know that she tried to protect Harry. We also know that James is dead because he appeared out of Voldemorts want in GoF.

Where was James when he was killed??? He could have been out somewhere with alot of people, when he was killed. Someone could have taken in another child (if there was another child...) so someone could have taken in another child that no one would know about.....

partially made up by ravenclawgrl:

Harry takes after james in many ways....

If you think about what we've seen of lily(the pensieve) Hermione is just like her.

In most families, a sibling takes after one or both of it's parents.... is this proof that Hermione and Harry are really related??

[HannahStarr]

Hey, and :welcome: to the forums! The idea of Lily having two children has been discussed before in the thread Lily had 2 kids (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=1838), although the reasons that the children were seperated are different from your reasons. While you can't post in the mentioned thread, it's still interesting to read.

However, I disagree with waht you say here: Harry takes after james in many ways....

If you think about what we've seen of lily(the pensieve) Hermione is just like her.

I do not think that Harry and James are alike at all - in fact, they seem like opposites to me. While Hermione may have seemed like Lily in that particular scene, I do not think you can base someone's ancestry on their parent's qualities, particularly if you have been living with someone else from the age of one onward.

[GryffindorSeeker]

Hermione and Harry, brother and sister? I really can't see it. Besides, we don't have any proof.

[harryfantotheend]

:welcome: to the forums!
You should search before you post:
Here's a thread that could be of intrest to you http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=1838&highlight=harry+hermione+related

Happy Posting!

[Spirit]

I don't think so. I mean, the only clue we have is that Hermione has red-brown hair. Well, so did Dumbledore, so does all of the Weasly's.... People are aloud to have red hair without being related.

[DarkMark90]

that's not my point.... my point is not totally based on looks, and if u think that, u should hear the ROn is really Dumbledore theory

[Potter1313]

I agree. It's completely ludicrous in my opinion. I doubt VERY much that Harry has any siblings at all, much less that Hermione is his sister. Wouldn't that be a bit Star Wars anyway? :huh: It's like Voldemort telling Harry that he's actually his father. :lol: Hermione has her own family (one I think will feel Voldemort's anti-muggle effects later on) and Harry has his.

I don't understand one of your points though, Dark Mark 90. (By the way, :welcome: .) James could have been out WHERE when he was killed? I got from the books that Voldemort came after them while they were sitting at home. They were killed in Godric's Hollow where they lived and Hagrid can attest to seeing their bodies. No one else knew how to find them besides Voldemort and Wormtail. Sirius knew where their house was but because of the Fidelius Charm, couldn't tell anyone since he wasn't secret keeper. So James and Lily are alone in the house with Harry. There couldn't have been anyone else there or else Harry would have heard it when he was near a Dementor. He heard his parents AND Voldemort. I'm fairly confident that if there were anyone else there, Harry would have heard them in his audio flashback AND that Hagrid would have seen their body as he was there moments afterward.

[dobby_rocks]

I have to doubt they are siblings for one they have different birthdays Harry’s is in July, Hers is I think September. As someone said it be star wars think, the only difference is Harry doesn’t have a crush on Hermoine. As far as Hermoine being like lily, it doesn’t mean they are related

James was at home when he was killed. in POA Harry hears

He’s here lily, take Harry and run, James obviously tried to give Lily time to get out the back door with Harry, but was probably killed in the hallway or as he ran up the steps

The potters were in hiding I have to doubt James would have gone out, leaving his family when he knew they were on the dark lords hit list

also Siruis attest to seeing their bodies as well when he arrived on the scene

[*Maven*]

Starwars........... and this isn't true because Dumbledore says Hermionies birthday and its not the same day as Harrys.

[Jonny Boy]

I doubt it but you never know what J.K. will think up next.

[Spirit]

Yeah, but I don't see how it's possible. Like people said, Harry's birthday is in July and Hermione's is in September. The closest thing there could be is Hermione being a half-sister, but I don't think so. It just doesn't make sense.
I think that there is something fishy about the Potter's death though... :agree:

[*Maven*]

nope not possible since if hermione is older then they would be in different school years, and if harry was older then I don't think it works out mathmatically or shes to young... i can't remember to well but it's highly unlikely.

[dtpoet]

Hello, my name is dtpoet.

This discussion can be found at www.darkmark.com.
Once at darkmark:
(1) Go to "Forums" then
(2) Go to "Phoenix Files" then
(3) Go to "Book 6 Theories" then
(4) Go to "Are Harry and Hermione Related?"

A few of us (some for...some against) have been discussing this for over a year. Our thread has over 2000 post (but there is a summary thread) and over 17000 views. We have even splintered into two groups; NSS=Non Sibling Supporters and STS=Sibling Theory Supporters.

It is a lot of fun but there is some serious discussion though and really interesting ideas and evidence. Merlin heads the STS and he has some very creative ideas as to how they are related. Earltwink, Cass, and bunn lead the NSS (but they're wrong and they just don't realize it).

I tell ya what. If you go and post something, choose the "wink" smiley face and mention me the first time you post.

Here's an example:

Maven mentioned that they'd be in seperate school years. WRONG! In England, you are defined by your school year based on where your birthday falls between September and August. Therefore, Hermione can be older and be in Harry's school year. Furthermore, they conventional wisdom states now (Hermione is a few months younger), SHE SHOULDN'T BE IN HARRY'S CLASS because her birthday falls after September 1st. Hermione should be in Ginny's class.

Well, if you are really interested in this theory, come join us. Thanks

dtpoet



For

[Tirwen Lupin]

I seriously doubt that they're siblings.
It seems very bizarre that no-one in the wizarding community, Dumbledore especially since he knew about the prophecy, would have no idea about Harry having a sister.
And why would the Potters have another child so quickly? With the dangerous times they were in, it would be rather foolish of them to have two young children around.
Where was Hermione on the night Lily and James died?
And we can't be sure that she's older than him--they might have been born the same year; school starts September 1st, and if Hermione's birthday is in fact on the 19th, she'd only be 18 days from turning the same age as the rest of the people in the year. If she was almost a year older than Harry, I think she'd be in the class above him.
And I don't see many similarities between Hermione and either Lily or James. Harry has strong physical resemblences to both of them, and Hermione has hardly any.
Finally, Hermione not being muggleborn would take away an important point from her character. Muggleborns can be just as great or even better than purebloods, and Hermione is a brilliant example of that. Her trouncing of Malfoy would not seem half as admirable if she wasn't indeed a "mudblood".

[cleansweep11]

Ok hosnestly..........not to be mean but all the things listed in the first post arn't true!! Hermione is younger then harry by two months.....that means that she couldn't have been born of Lily. Also the profecy states a person who is born as the 7th month dies would be the person not the first born potter. Also ...........since when was lily kiddnapped???????

[Godrics_Heiress]

i don't believe this theory. there is not a single physical resemblance between harry and hermione. and besides, if i am not mistaken, harry must have been conceived when lily was just only 18 or 19 years old. james and lily graduated at age 17 and i highly doubt they would have thought of having a child right away after graduation and getting together, especially with all the evil things voldy was unleashing at the time. hermione is simply two months younger than harry, as mentioned before in this thread.

[andiimim]

And we can't be sure that she's older than him--they might have been born the same year; school starts September 1st, and if Hermione's birthday is in fact on the 19th, she'd only be 18 days from turning the same age as the rest of the people in the year. If she was almost a year older than Harry, I think she'd be in the class above him.
".
I believe that I read in the books somewhere that the cut off for the term was Oct. 31. So, I think Hermione is exactly the same age as Harry and Ron. It is very unlikely that she is Harry's sister.

[harryfantotheend]

I have mixed opinions on some of the stuff in this thread, but i have one point to bring up. Don't you think that JKR is smarter and more creative than to use a Star Wars theme? I mean really! Or, maybe she's using reverse psycology. She's making us think that she wouldn't use that because its star wars, when really she's just trying to clear us off of the path that they really are brother and sister. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
RRRRGH!

[dtpoet]

AS STATED EARLIER, ON ANOTHER SITE WE HAVE BEN DISCUSSING THIS FOR OVER A YEAR, 2000+ POSTS, AND VIEWED SOME 17000 TIMES.

THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY CREATED BY MERLIN (Sibling Theory Supporter(STS)) IT IS QUITE LONG BUT A FASCINATING READ. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ IT CAREFULLY AND ENJOY. KEEP AN OPEN MIND UNTIL YOU HAVE READ IT COMPLETELY.

STS Summary : The Sibling Theory.
Version 3 : November 2003.[U]


STS = “Sibling Theory Supporters”.

The base idea of the Sibling Theory is that Hermione is Harry’s sister, James’s and Lily’s secret daughter.
For a reason we’ll learn later in the story, she was hidden at birth (or possibly a bit later), and her true identity remained a secret. She was raised by adoptive parents : Mr and Mrs Granger.

In a recent interview (June 19th, 2003), JK Rowling said :
There is one thing… it is kind of the heart of it all. And it kind of explains everything and no-one’s quite got there but a couple of people have skirted it. So you know… I couldn’t divert now, everything has been building up to it, and I’ve laid all my clues.

The Sibling Theory is based on many clues from the books (and a few clues from the movies and from interviews given by JK Rowling herself). We’ll examine the clues first, then we’ll see how the theory could work.


THE CLUES :

These are clues to support the theory. Obviously, there is no proof, and there won’t be any until JK decides it is time for the secret to be revealed. Some of the clues are rather vague, but others are pretty strong. And so many different clues point to the same conclusion… so many details fit so well !

Note that several clues imply that Hermione herself knows – or at least suspects – the truth.
On the other hand, Harry doesn’t know - except possibly for a memory hidden very deep in his subconscious.

[I]General clues

- Hermione’s behaviour with Harry.
When reading the books, we have the feeling that Harry and Hermione have a special thing, beyond friendship, that is not romantic. This is more visible on Hermione’s side. Her behaviour at the beginning of PS (before Harry and her become friends) is very interesting (see below). Through the entire series, her behaviour with Harry is very “sister-like”.
Harry and Hermione have a way of guessing each other’s thoughts : this happens quite often, they know at first glance what the other has in mind while Ron is completely lost. Sometimes, they also finish each other’s sentences (not unlike Fred and George).
Hermione sometimes speaks in Harry’s name (something nobody else does). Examples :
PoA, chapter 11 : “Don’t be silly”, said Hermione in a panicky voice, “Harry doesn’t want to kill anyone, do you, Harry ?”
GoF, chapter 10 : “Ron… Harry doesn’t want to play Quidditch right now… He’s worried, and he’s tired… we all need to go to bed.”
She even speaks in James’s and Lily’s name (something nobody does but their old friends). Example :
PoA, chapter 11 : “Your mum and dad wouldn’t want you to get hurt, would they ? They’d never want you to go looking for Black !”

- In GoF, Hermione wasn’t affected in any way by the rumours about her and Harry. Harry was annoyed, not her. When she read Rita Skeeter’s article “Harry Potter’s Secret Heartache”, she was rather amused… Harry, on the other hand, kept repeating “no she is not my girlfriend”. Does it mean she knew something that allowed her to laugh at these rumours ?
And in OotP, Hermione was perfectly comfortable talking about Harry’s relation with Cho. Even when Harry told her Cho was jealous… she was just “sorry”.
A friend - even a close friend - of the opposite sex should have been at least slightly embarrassed in such a situation. Not Hermione : she just gave Harry more advice… this makes sense if she is Harry’s sister.
By the way, JK has developed this topic (Harry and Hermione causing jealousy) quite a lot already : Rita’s articles, Krum’s jealousy and Harry saying “no she is not my girlfriend” in GoF, then Cho’s jealousy in OotP… So, now what ?
Will she be Harry’s girlfriend after all ? Or will something else be revealed (that will make Krum’s and Cho’s jealousy pointless) ?

- Hermione’s psychology : why is Hermione a “know-it-all” ? Why is it so important for her to be the best student in school ? There is a strange lack of background information concerning Hermione : JK usually tells us about such things. For instance : Ron is a jealous character because of his childhood in the shadow of his brothers. Voldemort hates Muggles because of his father.
The Sibling Theory provides an answer : if Hermione knows that Harry is her brother, she wants to keep up with him ! Harry is “the boy who lived”, he is famous in the entire world ; so, Hermione must prove that she can do as well as he can do, or even better. At least, in class, she can answer questions he can’t !
The other possible answer would be that Hermione must prove she is the best because she is Muggle-born, but this doesn’t work : she was already a “know-it-all” when she first arrived at Hogwarts. If she had been knowing about the wizarding world for a few weeks only, this couldn’t have affected her psychology so quickly.

- And by the way, Hermione really knew a bit too much about the wizarding world and about Harry when she first arrived at Hogwarts…

- Why do we know so little about the Grangers ? They are the parents of one of the main three characters, but we know almost nothing about them, except they are dentists. Why ? Also note that Hermione has never said “mum” or “dad” in the story. It’s always “my parents” or “mum and dad”…
They are Muggles, thus unimportant ? But there are important Muggle characters in the story ! And it’s not just the Dursleys… Why do we know less about Hermione’s parents than we do about the Dursley’s neighbours or about the villagers of Little Hangleton ?

- Physical resemblance is an issue : JK almost always tells us about features of physical resemblance between relatives : Harry and his parents, Dudley and Vernon, the Weasley family, Draco and his father, Neville and his mother, Fleur and her sister, Viktor Krum and his father, etc…
But NOT Hermione and the Grangers. Even though Hermione is one of the main three characters, and even though we saw the Grangers twice (in CoS and in OotP), we are never told Hermione looks anything like “mum and dad”. Most unusual for JK !
True, we aren’t told Hermione looks like Harry either (well… except they both have hair problems ! But they don’t have the same hair).
We are told another character in the story has large front teeth : Petunia Dursley (Hermione’s aunt if the theory is true).

- Could there be a riddle in Hermione’s name ? JK likes to play with words and names…
Hermione = “Her my own” or “Her my one”…
This one is quite unsure. See below though (Krum’s pronunciation in GoF).

Clues from book 1

- The very first time we hear about Harry, in chapter 1 :
The Dursleys knew that the Potters had a small son too…
Why this indirect form “the Dursleys knew…” ? What did the Dursleys ignore then ?
A few lines above, we hear about Lily directly from the narrator :
Mrs Potter was Mrs Dursley’s sister…
So, why is it not just : “The Potters had a small son too” ? Because it would not be the complete truth (if the Potters had two children). But the sentence about what the Dursleys knew is the exact truth.

- The first time Hermione and Harry meet in the train… She says :
I’d have found out everything I could if it was me.
Well, yes… It could have been her !

- More about this scene :
Hermione entered Harry’s compartment on the pretext of searching Trevor the toad. But… where was Trevor during all that time ? Did the little toad find his way to the boats all by himself ? Clever Trevor !
Or was he in Hermione’s pocket ? Had she taken the toad just to send Neville look around, and then have a good reason to see her long-lost brother at last ?
(more about this hint in the movie : see below).

- Before Harry and Hermione become friends, Hermione’s behaviour is quite excessive (chapter 9) :
I can’t believe you are going to do this, Harry.
Sure enough, Harry notices it :
Harry couldn’t believe anyone could be so interfering.
At that point, they aren’t friends yet. But if Harry is her brother, and if she knows it, Hermione’s behaviour makes sense. Note that we aren’t told she behaves like that with anyone else at that time.

- JK arranged the plot so that Hermione never looked into the Mirror of Erised, unlike Harry and Ron. Why ? What would she have seen there ? Would this have given away too much ?
(Same as the “Boggart” clue in book 3 : see below).

- The scene before Harry meets Quirrell/Voldemort (chapter 16) :
Hermione’s lips trembled and she suddenly dashed at Harry and threw her arms around him.
This could have been one of the moments she desperately wanted to tell him the truth !
And then she said :
friendship, and bravery, and - oh, Harry
What was she about to say ? Was it and family ?

Clues from book 2

- After Hermione and Penelope have been petrified (chapter 14)… Professor McGonagall goes straight to Harry :
Potter, I think you’d better come with me…
Is it because he is Hermione’s friend ? She would have asked Ron as well, wouldn’t she ?
But she doesn’t seem to care about Ron… She includes him as an afterthought, and only after Ron himself comes running up to them :
Yes, perhaps you’d better come too, Weasley.
Note the “perhaps… too…”
Quite strange, isn’t it ?
Could McGonagall be a H/Hr shipper ? Hmmmm… that wouldn’t make much sense, would it ?
But this is perfectly normal if Hermione is Harry’s sister and McGonagall knows it.

- And a bit later (chapter 16), McGonagall is moved to tears when Harry (not Ron) asks her if they can see Hermione in the Hospital Wing :
Yes, Potter, of course you may visit Miss Granger. (Then she must blow her nose ! )
Again, not a word for Ron…
And note that she is allowing Harry to break a security rule ! It is for security reasons that visits to the Hospital Wing had been forbidden. Not really like Minerva McGonagall, is it ? There must be very exceptional circumstances for her to behave like that ! A secret sibling is a very exceptional circumstance.
She must have thought :
“Poor boy ! He doesn’t know… He doesn’t know, and yet he must feel it somehow… and he misses her.” (At this point, she must blow her nose).

- Being called a Mudblood doesn’t seem to affect Hermione very much, does it ?
OK, it might be because she doesn’t understand what it means at first. However, it still doesn’t affect her very much in GoF (Malfoy) and OotP (Malfoy and Kreacher). And at that time, she does know what it means.
This could be because she is not really Muggle-born. Just pretending.

Clues from book 3

- Lupin’s class with the Boggart (chapter 7)… All students fight the Boggart except Harry and Hermione.
Lupin didn’t allow Harry to do it because he was afraid (wrongly) that the Boggart would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort. But why didn’t Hermione fight the Boggart ?
Well… A Boggart can give away quite a lot. For instance, Lupin’s Boggart (the moon) does reveal his big secret. So, this should mean either that Lupin didn’t want Hermione to do it (because he personally knows the truth or possibly because Dumbledore had told him “Miss Granger shouldn’t do it” ) or that Hermione herself didn’t want to fight the Boggart in public (and stayed behind during the lesson).
And by the way, when Hermione finally fought a Boggart during her exam (chapter 16), nobody but her could see what shape it assumed… did she tell the truth ? Was it really McGonagall telling her she had failed her exam ? A bit ridiculous, isn’t it ?
What was Hermione’s Boggart ? Was it Voldemort ? Was it Voldemort trying to kill Harry ?

- Why did JK want Hermione to hide a big secret (the Time Turner) during all book 3 ? Was it to get the readers prepared to the idea that keeping a secret is a very serious thing for Hermione ?
Does it mean we should expect a much bigger secret about her to be revealed in the end ?

- At the end of book 3, when Harry creates his stag Patronus, Prongs symbolically comes back to save three people from the Dementors : Harry, Hermione and Sirius.
In a symbolic way, James Potter “comes back” for his son, his daughter and his best friend.

- Chapter 22 : In the train returning to London, talking about the Time Turner, Ron says to Hermione :
I still can’t believe you didn’t tell us about it… We’re supposed to be your friends.
Hermione answers :
“I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
She looked around at Harry…
“Oh, cheer up Harry !” – said Hermione sadly.
(The words friends and anyone are emphasised in the book, strongly suggesting that someone present – Harry – is more than a friend to Hermione).
Quite clear isn’t it ? She is talking about secrets and about not telling, then immediately she looks around at Harry ! And she feels sad for him : if only she could tell him right now ! But no : she can’t. Harry has to go to those Dursleys…
Otherwise, why would she speak “sadly” ? Not the best way to improve Harry’s spirits, is it ?

Clues from book 4

- BIG hint… Chapter 13, Divination class :
“I’ve got two Neptunes here,” said Harry after a while, frowning down at his piece of parchment, “that can’t be right, can it ?”
Well… can it ? The interesting thing is that Harry seems doubtful.
Ron immediately makes a joke about Harry’s birth, but it would be very much JK’s style to hide an important clue by having someone make a joke about it. And Ron’s joke ( “a sure sign a midget in glasses is being born” ) emphasises that it is all about Harry’s birth.
This wouldn’t be true divination anyway : Harry was quite tired after his complicated planetary calculations concerning his own birth, and his subconscious memory might have influenced him into finding this result…
Neptune is associated with hidden memory… He has a hidden memory of duality… two children… So he finds “two Neptunes”.
This one strongly suggests twins ! ( “A sure sign twins are being born” ).

- Chapter 23 : Krum is trying to pronounce Hermione’s name…
”Her-my-oh-nee”, she said, slowly and clearly.
“Herm-own-ninny”.
“Close enough”, she said, catching Harry’s eye and grinning.
Was that really “close enough” ? Hummmm… and she “catches Harry’s eye” just at that moment.
“Ninny” is a mere joke, but it could mean she is “hermy-own-???” for Harry…

- BIG hint (chapter 24) : at the Three Broomsticks pub, Rita Skeeter is trying to get one last interview from Harry.
About Hagrid, she asks him :
Would you call him a father substitute ?
Hermione’s reaction is immediate and extremely violent ; she stands up
very abruptly, her Butterbeer clutched in her hand as though it was a grenade.
Why ? After all, these words were nothing worse than what Rita had been saying before. In fact, compared to Rita’s normal standards, this was almost nice ! And not completely wrong…
Obviously, it is the words “a father substitute” that triggered Hermione’s reaction. Quite normal if “mum and dad” are not her true parents.

Clues from book 5

- Chapter 4 :
Hermione had thrown herself on to him in a hug that nearly knocked him flat…
“Let him breathe, Hermione”, said Ron…
Note that before Ron tells her “let him breathe”, Hermione is making a fairly long speech… “I’ve looked it up, they can’t expel you, it’s just outrageous…” while still hugging Harry.

- Chapter 9 : the Prefect’s badges have just arrived.
First part : She spotted the badge in Harry’s hand and let out a shriek.
“I knew it !” she said excitedly, brandishing her letter. “Me too, Harry, me too !”
“No,” said Harry quickly…
Second part : a bit later, Ron shows his mother his prefect’s badge.
Mrs Weasley let out a shriek just like Hermione’s.
“I don’t believe it ! I don’t believe it ! Oh, Ron, how wonderful ! A prefect ! That’s everyone in the family !”
“What are Fred and I, next-door neighbours ?” said George indignantly…
See ? Why does JK insist on the similarity ?
“A shriek just like Hermione’s”…
Because it is for just the same reason :
“That’s everyone in the family !”

- BIG hint. Chapter 25, Hagrid tells Harry they are very much alike :
”In the same boat, yeh an’ me, aren’ we, ‘Arry ?”
“Er –“ said Harry.
“Yeah… I’ve said it before… both outsiders, like”, said Hagrid, nodding wisely. “An’ both orphans. Yeah… both orphans”…
“Family,” said Hagrid gloomily. “Whatever yeh say, blood’s important…”
In chapter 30, we understand – at last - what Hagrid meant ! His giant brother Grawp !
So, “ In the same boat, yeh an’ me, aren’ we, ‘Arry ?” must be a foreshadowing ! In the end, Harry should find his lost sibling too !
But in OotP, all that happened is that he lost “the closest thing to a parent he had ever known”. Something has to happen later to compensate this…
And note that the entire “Grawp” story is between Hagrid, Harry and Hermione. Ron takes no part in it… It’s all about lost relatives !

- Hermione and Rita again, chapter 25 :
“It’s none of your business if Harry’s been with a hundred girls,” Hermione told Rita coolly.
(The word your is emphasised in the book).
It seems Hermione considers it’s Harry’s business… as well as hers ! Harry doesn’t say anything : she is speaking for him !

- The way Hermione behaves with Harry and Cho is rather interesting. Chapter 26 :
“You should have said it was really annoying…
And it might have been a good idea to mention how ugly you think I am too,” Hermione added as an afterthought.
“But I don’t think you’re ugly,” said Harry, bemused.
Harry had just told her how Cho had got jealous of her…
1- If she was just a friend for Harry, even a very close friend… well, she would have been at least slightly embarrassed, wouldn’t she ?
2- If she had romantic feelings for Harry, then she should have been very embarrassed.
3- But her reaction was exactly what Harry’s secret sister would have done !

- Why is Hermione nagging Harry so badly about his Occlumency lessons ? Is it because she is thinking :
“Come on, Harry ! If you mastered Occlumency, then maybe I’d be allowed to tell you !”

- OotP, chapter 31 (OWLs) :
“I mistranslated ehwaz,” said Hermione furiously. “It means partnership, not defence ; I mixed it up with eihwaz.”
The point is : these runes really exist ! Here is what they mean :
1- “Ehwaz” : symbol shaped like a “M”.
Partnership, Harmony, Duality, Horse (or two horses), Ideal marriage or partnership AND…
“Ehwaz is the rune associated with twin gods, heroes or horses.”
Twin heroes !!! Yes, “Ehwaz” can mean that !
2- “Eihwaz” : symbol shaped vaguely like a lightning bolt.
Yew tree, Strength, Endurance, Defence, Protection.
This clue can support the idea that Hermione has a key role in Harry's protection, a bit like Petunia (as we know Lily’s blood is Harry’s protection).
Here is how it could work :
Hermione must translate Ehwaz, which can mean “twin heroes”... so obviously she thinks of her brother Harry and she mixes it up with Eihwaz. Why ? Because the Eihwaz rune looks a bit like Harry's scar, because it can mean “protection” (this would be Hermione’s task ) and “yew tree” (the wand that gave Harry his scar is made of yew).

- Overall, Hermione spends very little time with her “parents”. First, she spends most of July cleaning Sirius’s house with Ron and the Weasleys. If she saw “mum and dad” that summer, it’s at most for a week or so. Then, she doesn't go home for the holidays. She blows off the ski trip her parents had planned. She says, "they'll understand". Will they ? Will it be because a friend's father was nearly killed OR because she knows and they know that they are not her biological parents ?

Clues from movie 1

- Trevor the toad again : from the book to the movie, the place where Neville finds his toad changes. In the movie, it is in the castle, during McGonagall’s speech…. and just in front of Hermione !

- When the three are climbing the stairs, Ron says to Harry :
It’s spooky : she knows more about you than you do.
Harry answers :
Who doesn’t ?
Well… if Ron, who comes from an old wizarding family, finds it “spooky” then it means Hermione knows considerably more about Harry than other people do. Not bad for a girl who is supposed to have been knowing she is a witch for only a few weeks ! But if Harry is her brother, and if she knows the truth, this is perfectly normal !

Clues from movie 2

- The hug scene in the end. Hermione is very comfortable hugging Harry (not Ron).

Clues from JK Rowling’s interviews

- During a chat (AOL chat, 04/2000) someone asked JK about a possible Harry-Hermione romance in the future books. She answered :
…as for Harry and Hermione, d’you really think they’re suited ?
So, what did these words mean ?
1- Most R/Hr shippers would answer this just means they are not suited. However, if it was so simple, why would JK have given away that much ?
2- For H/Hr shippers, JK made an ambiguous answer and no conclusion is possible… Maybe the answer was a humorous one…. “well, yes they are !” However, this would be very misleading !
3- The Sibling Theory fits perfectly here :
“…as for Harry and Hermione, d’you really think they’re suited ? Wait till you know who they really are !”
The answer is not misleading… yet JK isn’t giving away the main piece of information ! Brilliant !

- Something else JK said :
Q : Do Harry and Hermione have a date?
JKR : No, they're very platonic friends. But I won't answer for anyone else... nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
Again, the Sibling Theory fits perfectly… JK said it herself : “wink, wink.”

- JK once said Hermione’s name is based on Shakespeare.
The Hermione in “A Winter’s Tale” went into hiding for 16 years. If the truth about Harry’s sister is revealed before the end, that’s about the time she will have been “hiding”.

- During the BBC TV show “Harry and Me”, JK showed a few items to the camera. These included a school-list. You can have a look at the pictures here :
http://www.fictionalley.org/harryandme
http://www.crusaders.no/~afhp/notebook/
It seems JK changed Hermione’s name : she had originally named her Hermione Puckle (?) She changed the name to Granger later. This implies that :
1 - Harry and Hermione are together in this alphabetical list, as all other siblings are (the Patil sisters for instance).
2 - When JK first created Hermione, she gave her the initials “H.P.”
She changed it later, probably because it would give away too much !
This could support the twin-theory.

- Here is what JK said on June 19th, 2003 (just before the release of OotP) :
JP: So there will be some pairing up will there in this book?
JKR: Well in the fullness of time.
JP: Unlikely pairings? Not Hermione and Draco Malfoy or anything like that?
JKR: I don’t really want to say as it will ruin all the fan sites. They have such fun with their theories … and it is fun, it is fun. And some of them even get quite close. No-one has ever - I have gone and looked at some of it and no-one’s ever … There is one thing that if anyone guessed I would be really annoyed as it is kind of the heart of it all. And it kind of explains everything and no-one’s quite got there but a couple of people have skirted it. So you know, I would be pretty miffed after thirteen or fourteen years of writing the books if someone just came along and said I think this will happen in book seven. Because it is too late, I couldn’t divert now, everything has been building up to it, and I’ve laid all my clues.
So, now we know there is a Central Secret in the story ! The “heart of it all” ! And it must affect character “shipping” somehow (the question was about shipping).
The Sibling Theory fits : it does affect “shipping” of course (as it makes one of the most popular ships impossible), and it can certainly be “the heart of it all”, the secret that “ kind of explains everything” (especially if Hermione is “the one” in the prophecy, OR if she is the key to Harry’s protection). And many, many clues have been “building up to it”.


THE THEORY, AND POSSIBLE VARIANTS :

- Why was Hermione hidden ?
Before OotP, the answer was quite simple : she was hidden for her own security, to protect her from Voldemort. The idea was that Voldemort was after the Potter bloodline. Now we know the reason why Voldemort wanted to kill Harry (the prophecy), and it is more difficult to answer this question.
One thing remains : she was hidden so that Voldemort wouldn’t know.
1- Maybe she was hidden so that Voldemort could not use her against Harry somehow… What could Voldemort do if he knew ? There are many frightening possibilities…
2- Another possibility : it has something to do with the prophecy. Hermione is involved. This idea works best with the twin-theory (see below). We can’t be 100% sure that “the one” mentioned in the prophecy is a boy : after all, “the one” could mean a baby of unknown gender, who would be referred to as “he” in the prophecy. As for the mark, Voldemort can still mark someone else before the end… Hermione could be “the one”.
3- It is also possible that Hermione is important for Harry’s protection. Harry is protected by “his mother’s blood”. It works with Petunia. Could it work with Hermione ? In that case, the fact Voldemort ignores the existence of this particular protection could be, in the end, the key to his downfall.
The Ehwaz/Eihwaz clue (see above) can support this idea.
4- It is possible to combine the two previous ideas : Hermione was initially hidden because of the prophecy. When it became clear the prophecy was about her brother, Dumbledore decided it was best to keep the secret, because Hermione could – later – give Harry a protection Voldemort wouldn’t be aware of.
5- Or maybe it is something else, something we’ll learn later. Anyway, whatever it is, it must be something essential, the heart of the entire plot.

- How old is Hermione ?
When she was asked Hermione’s birthday, JK answered “September 19th”.
The question of Hermione’s age (is she older or younger than Harry) is still debated among fans – independently from the Sibling Theory.
For the Sibling Theory, there are 3 possibilities :
1- Older sister (10 months older than Harry) : this is quite possible considering that she and Harry are in the same year at Hogwarts. There is strong evidence in GoF that the cut-off-date for Hogwarts is September 1st (Angelina was 6th year in GoF, and she turned 17 in October), as it is in Muggle schools in the UK. A younger Hermione should be in the same year as Ginny. But the older Hermione theory contradicts the CoS DVD timeline.
2- Younger sister (50 days younger than Harry) : impossible without some Time-affecting Magic. Sure there are things in the Room of Time in the Department of Mysteries that could allow this… In OotP, Hermione was awe-struck in that room…
3- Twin sister : Hermione was born on July 31st, and September 19th is only her “official” birthday. Maybe she went to her adoptive parents on September 19th… Anyway, this idea could really make sense if the reason she was hidden has something to do with the prophecy (as Voldemort would be after children born at the end of July, giving her a fake birth-date as well as a new name would be a good idea). Note that the only time we saw Hermione get a birthday present (in PoA), it was an early present !

- When did Hermione go to the Grangers ?
Several possibilities : at birth, after 50 days (with the twin theory), a bit later, after Voldemort killed the Potters. In the later case, she could have been present (just hidden) the night Voldemort killed Lily and James…

- Who knows the truth ?
Very few people do.
The Potters obviously knew. They probably told Dumbledore (although we know James had been hiding things from him… the fact he was an animagus for instance).
The Grangers must know. Based on the clues, McGonagall knows the truth, and maybe Lupin.
STS members have different opinions about what Hermione herself knows. Three main theories here :
1- Hermione knows that Harry is her brother, and she already knew it before she first arrived at Hogwarts.
2- Hermione arrived at Hogwarts with no certitude, just suspicions. She got a certitude later (possibly in PoA).
3- Hermione still has only suspicions.

- Why not tell Harry ?
Because Harry has a mind connection with Voldemort. And if it is of utmost importance that Voldemort ignores the truth, then telling Harry would be too risky.
If Hermione herself knows the truth, then Dumbledore or McGonagall made her promise not to tell.


OBJECTIONS AND ANSWERS:

- Dumbledore says in PS that the Dursleys are Harry’s only left family.
I’ve come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. They’re the only family he has left now.
Given the context, Dumbledore probably means “the only family that can take care of him”… Adult relatives. Not other babies… This is why he doesn’t mention Dudley. So, he doesn’t mention Hermione either.
(Otherwise… Dumbledore’s sentence would imply that Dudley is not Harry’s cousin ! )
Besides, “left” doesn’t mean the same thing as “alive”. Dumbledore’s sentence could mean :
“His parents are dead and his sister is gone. So, his aunt and uncle are the only family he has left”.
Dumbledore is talking to McGonagall (who knows the truth) : he is not lying to her… She can understand what he means.

- But it is said in book 3 (chapter 1) and 4 (chapter 2) that Vernon, Petunia and Dudley are Harry’s only living relatives. And this time, it is said directly by the narrator…
Does the narrator always say the “absolute” truth, or just the truth from Harry’s point of view ?
It is quite clear that in all chapters where Harry is present (which means all the time except in book 1 chapter 1 and book 4 chapter 1), the narrator gives us Harry’s vision of things, NOT the “absolute” truth.
For instance : in GoF, the narrator often says “Moody did this” or “Moody said that”, which is the truth from Harry’s point of view. An omniscient narrator would have said “Crouch”, not “Moody”.
And Harry obviously has no doubt that the Dursleys ARE his only living relatives. But he can be wrong…

- When looking into the Mirror of Erised, Harry doesn’t see Hermione.
As Dumbledore himself explains, the Mirror cannot give anyone Knowledge or Truth. Thus, if Harry has secret relatives, he can’t learn anything about them from the Mirror.
What he can see is simply his heart’s greatest desire, an image from his own subconscious (maybe it’s a subconscious memory, people he had actually seen when he was a baby).
And even if Hermione was in the picture, would Harry be able to recognise a 1 year old baby Hermione ?

- In CoS, the Basilisk attacked Hermione. So, she must be Muggle-born.
First, Hermione was with Penelope. So, Penelope could have been the target, and Hermione just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
And even if Hermione was the target, this doesn’t prove anything : the Basilisk was just a tool - it attacked whoever Tom Riddle told it to attack.
Muggle-borns of course, but also a cat, and also Harry in the end.
As Tom Riddle believed Hermione was Muggle-born (because Ginny believed it), he could have sent the Basilisk after her anyway.

- An important message in the story is that it is our choices that really matter. Not blood. Hermione is already Harry’s friend. Why make her his sister ?
Before OotP, this was a serious objection.
But in OotP, things have become more complex : as Hagrid says, blood is important. Really important. NOT the way it is important for the Dark Side (purity of blood). But it makes a huge difference, having someone who is really your brother (Hagrid), or your mother’s sister (Harry).
OotP, chapter 2 : And all of a sudden, for the very first time in his life, Harry fully appreciated that Aunt Petunia was his mother’s sister. He could not have said why this hit him so very powerfully at this moment.
OotP, chapter 25 : “Family,” said Hagrid gloomily. “Whatever yeh say, blood’s important…”

- A lost sister… This has been done before !
Has it ?
Well, almost everything has been done before. Eternal myths belong to no one !
A good little orphan who has hidden powers… A Dark Lord… All these ideas have been used before too, and more than just once ! And yet, JK has written an original story based on this. So, why not a secret sister ?
Besides, a secret sister who knows the truth but can’t tell would be quite an original idea !


VARIOUS IDEAS :

These ideas have been proposed by STS members. They are not essential to the Sibling Theory… But they could work with the theory.

- Professor McGonagall has a daughter, who was at Hogwarts with James and Lily. This girl was Lily’s best friend, and she knew James very well too because they were playing Quidditch in the same team.
Later, when James and Lily were killed, MacGonagall’s daughter adopted her best friend’s child and became Hermione’s adoptive mother : she is Mrs Granger, and Mr Granger is her Muggle husband.
So, Hermione is Minerva McGonagall’s adoptive grand-daughter.
The only clue to support this idea is in movie 1 : when Hermione shows Harry his father’s name on the Quidditch Shield, the name “McGonagall” is clearly visible.

- Caradoc Dearborn (the member of the original Order of the Phoenix who vanished) had something to do with Hermione’s secret.

- Various ideas have been discussed about the Marauders Map. As Harry has never seen Hermione on the Map, we are not sure how she would show up… Possibly as “Hermione Potter”, but maybe as “Hermione Granger” if she was legally adopted (and if “legally” means something for the Map).
Also, JK made sure the Map was returned to one of its creators (Moony) in PoA. Lupin kept it for several months, so he might have “fixed” the problem somehow… he could have made sure “Hermione Potter” doesn’t show up. After all… why was he looking at the Map in the first place the night he saw Harry, Ron, Hermione, Pettigrew and Sirius Black ?

- The Fidelius Charm is used to protect important secrets. So, maybe the secret of Hermione's birth was protected that way.
Before Hermione goes to the Grangers, the secret of her birth is protected by the Fidelius Charm. The Potters, the Grangers, Dumbledore and McGonagall all know the truth, but only the Secret Keeper (Dumbledore ? ) can tell other people.
This could be the reason why James couldn't tell Sirius ! Or, if you suppose Sirius knew the truth, this could be the reason why Sirius couldn't tell Harry !
Later, the Secret Keeper decides to tell Hermione. It's safe to do so : she can't tell anyone else - because she is NOT the Secret Keeper. Why tell Hermione ? Possibly because she will be important for Harry's protection, so she must know the truth. Or possibly because the Secret Keeper knows Harry and Hermione will be at Hogwarts together. And he understands that it is safer to have one of them know the truth. Otherwise... two teenagers, who will get older... you see the point...
But Harry mustn't know the truth. His mind connection with Voldemort would make it too dangerous :
“I guessed, fifteen years ago,” said Dumbledore, “when I saw the scar on your forehead, what it might mean. I guessed that it might be the sign of a connection forged between you and Voldemort.”
Legilimency is not thought-reading, as Snape explains in OotP. It's more about feeling someone's emotions. Voldemort could perceive the nature of Harry's feelings, of his emotions... and understand. At least, he could understand enough for Hermione to be in great danger after that…
So, in the story, there is Harry who musn't know the truth, and Hermione who does know but can't tell.
She fully understands that she mustn't tell Harry, but even if she accidentally was about to do so, the Fidelius Charm would prevent her.
“... friendship, and bravery and - (here the Fidelius Charm blocks her) oh, Harry !”

- Several different ideas have been proposed as for how Harry will eventually learn the truth :
1- He will find it in his own memory,
2- Voldemort will find it… so there will be no point hiding the truth from Harry anymore,
3- Harry will learn Occlumency. Once he is able to close his mind, Hermione or Dumbledore will tell him,
4- Harry will see “Hermione Potter” on the Marauders Map (interestingly enough, he has never seen Hermione on the Map up to now).
5- JK once said Professor McGonagall has a magical quill that writes the names of all magical babies into a book when they are born (this is how she can send them an owl when they turn 11). The book is kept in McGonagall’s office. So, it is possible that Harry will somehow find this book and read : “Potter, Harry - Potter, Hermione”.
6- Harry will see it in Dumbledore’s Pensieve.
7- In the end, Hermione will fulfil the prophecy by killing Voldemort, after Voldemort will have “marked” her with a scar. At that time, Harry will understand.


--------------------
President of the STS Party.

"D'you really think they're suited ?" ~J.K. Rowling
When two Neptunes appear in the sky.... what does it really mean ?
"Family," said Hagrid gloomily. "Whatever yeh say, blood’s important…"

"There is one thing... it is kind of the heart of it all. And it kind of explains everything and no-one’s quite got there but a couple of people have skirted it... everything has been building up to it, and I’ve laid all my clues."~J.K. Rowling

[Arkenziel]

Harry and Hermione related?? No! That would be weird! And wrong! I mean... Harry :love: Hermione forever! :D Oops! Who said that??

[Girl]

- How old is Hermione ?
When she was asked Hermione’s birthday, JK answered “September 19th”.
The question of Hermione’s age (is she older or younger than Harry) is still debated among fans – independently from the Sibling Theory.
For the Sibling Theory, there are 3 possibilities :
1- Older sister (10 months older than Harry) : this is quite possible considering that she and Harry are in the same year at Hogwarts. There is strong evidence in GoF that the cut-off-date for Hogwarts is September 1st (Angelina was 6th year in GoF, and she turned 17 in October), as it is in Muggle schools in the UK. A younger Hermione should be in the same year as Ginny. But the older Hermione theory contradicts the CoS DVD timeline.
2- Younger sister (50 days younger than Harry) : impossible without some Time-affecting Magic. Sure there are things in the Room of Time in the Department of Mysteries that could allow this… In OotP, Hermione was awe-struck in that room…
3- Twin sister : Hermione was born on July 31st, and September 19th is only her “official” birthday. Maybe she went to her adoptive parents on September 19th… Anyway, this idea could really make sense if the reason she was hidden has something to do with the prophecy (as Voldemort would be after children born at the end of July, giving her a fake birth-date as well as a new name would be a good idea). Note that the only time we saw Hermione get a birthday present (in PoA), it was an early present !

- When did Hermione go to the Grangers ?
Several possibilities : at birth, after 50 days (with the twin theory), a bit later, after Voldemort killed the Potters. In the later case, she could have been present (just hidden) the night Voldemort killed Lily and James…

- Who knows the truth ?
Very few people do.
The Potters obviously knew. They probably told Dumbledore (although we know James had been hiding things from him… the fact he was an animagus for instance).
The Grangers must know. Based on the clues, McGonagall knows the truth, and maybe Lupin.
STS members have different opinions about what Hermione herself knows. Three main theories here :
1- Hermione knows that Harry is her brother, and she already knew it before she first arrived at Hogwarts.
2- Hermione arrived at Hogwarts with no certitude, just suspicions. She got a certitude later (possibly in PoA).
3- Hermione still has only suspicions.



But if Lupin knew then so must Sirius and Wormtail. Sirius was after all James's bestfriend. If Wormtail knew then so does Voldermort as Wormtail is on his side. So even if Hermione changed her name and birthday Voldermort would still know that the Potter's had another child and would look for her.

If Hermione was 10 months older then Harry then it would mean that Lilly got pregnent with Harry just a month after Hermione was born. The same goes if Hermione was 10 months younger.

2- Younger sister (50 days younger than Harry) : impossible without some Time-affecting Magic. Sure there are things in the Room of Time in the Department of Mysteries that could allow this… In OotP, Hermione was awe-struck in that room…

That would be almost impossible as there are rules about using the Time-Turner and going back in time, it is also very hard to get it from the MoM. Dumbledore had to tell the MoM that Hermione needed it for school before she was given it. Also she was told that she could not use it for anything else.

I theerefore don't think Herry and Hermione are related. They are friends and that is all.

[FlyingPhoenix]

- When looking into the Mirror of Erised, Harry doesn’t see Hermione.
As Dumbledore himself explains, the Mirror cannot give anyone Knowledge or Truth. Thus, if Harry has secret relatives, he can’t learn anything about them from the Mirror.
What he can see is simply his heart’s greatest desire, an image from his own subconscious (maybe it’s a subconscious memory, people he had actually seen when he was a baby).
And even if Hermione was in the picture, would Harry be able to recognise a 1 year old baby Hermione ?


I have a little problem with your theory and its that Harry need some how know as one year old that there was a two year old sister somewhere. I mean his subcondition he have to know that. This say as he first step in front of the mirror he didn't know how his parents looks but his memory of an one year old knew it this say according this he should see in his mothers arms a 2 year old child or Hermione how she looks now somewhere in this reflection but who knows and his subconditioned mind know Hermione is his sister so he can't see her. But still I doubt this theory.

Why? Because muggleborns play a to important role as that Hermione turns out as Harrys sister. You know this with her name can just mean that this spoil to much about the end pairing, real pairing. I mean HP and HP its kinda funny, very funny indeed.

[PadfootGirl]

Yeah, I heart Sirius, I read a really long post in a forum about Hermione and Harry being twins and they called it the Twin Theory, I think. I would like to revisit that if anyone know where it is. Thanks. :whistle:

[Kaonashi]

Um, no. Someoneowuld ahve mentioned to harry by now that he has a sibling, or it would have been mentioned in "Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts" or any of the other Wizarding History books. As famous as Harry is that would not have been kept a secret.

[cleansweep11]

I agree with Kaonashi, people would know.......

[Jill]

There is no evidence through out the books to suggest that Hermione is Harrys sister. In fact there is more evidence to support the fact that Hermiones actuall parents are muggles. Lucius for one knows that Hermiones parents are muggles and that she is muggle born. Surely he would have known about Lilys other child if she had one, which I doubt she did.

I could believe it if they where cousins perhaps but not sisters.

[sindatur]

Not sure if anyone pointed this out yet, but Hermione is 10 months younger than Harry, not 10 months older. They are in the same year and Hermione's birthday is in September or October, so she would be a year ahead, if she was older. There is a certain grace period where if you turn of age soon enough after the start of the school year, you are considered of age to start that year. I believe it's anywhere from 4-6 weeks in American schools, and have heard it may be up to 3 months in British Schools.

[dtpoet]

"Not sure if anyone pointed this out yet, but Hermione is 10 months younger than Harry, not 10 months older. They are in the same year and Hermione's birthday is in September or October, so she would be a year ahead, if she was older. There is a certain grace period where if you turn of age soon enough after the start of the school year, you are considered of age to start that year. I believe it's anywhere from 4-6 weeks in American schools, and have heard it may be up to 3 months in British Schools.~sindatur"

Sorry, you're wrong about the dates. In the states, every state has a different cut-off and most states don't have a grace period. A cut-off is a cut-off. In New Jersey, the cut-off is October 1st. If your child turns 6 on October 1st or prior, then the state becomes liable to educate your child. In addition, according to several people who live in England who have posted in another site I mentioned, the cut-off in England is very strict and there are no exceptions.

The same is true in England, but the cut-off there is September 1st (verified by an official England Education website). Therefore, Hermione should not have been allowed in Harry's class since (as conventioanl wisdom states) she did not turn 11 until after the September 1st cutoff. Hermione should be in Ginny's class. Of course, unless she is actually older than Harry.

dtpoet

[dtpoet]

"Um, no. Someoneowuld ahve mentioned to harry by now that he has a sibling, or it would have been mentioned in "Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts" or any of the other Wizarding History books. As famous as Harry is that would not have been kept a secret.~Kaonashi"

Not if only a few people knew she was pregnant to begin with. We don't really know what it was like in those years when Voldemort was at his peak. We have hints that it was extremely harsh, difficult times.

It is possible that it was decided by James, Lily, and Dumbledore that it would be best, based on what was going on at in those times, for Hermione to be adopted by another family in order to protect her and no one else would know. We don't know what the Potters' were doing for the Order, but it might have involved something that required little or no contact witht the other Order personnel.

This is just one of many possibilities.

dtpoet

[Discordia]

I don't think that it's possible for her to have 2 kids unless they were twins and i doubt that also. We'd have known by now. How would the other kids have felt knowing who is brother was and his parents were and that he was never acknowledged? There would be too many problems. If he had another sibling we'd have had a few more stronger hints about it by now. Lily and James married soon after Hogwarts. They were also murdered a year after Harry was born. So unless there's a larger gap between the years they left Hogwarts and the year they died I don't think that they could have possible had more children. This Mark Evans guy can't be Lily's son that's for sure. He probably from her side of the family and since he has the last name of Evans he must be the son of some male relation of Lily's.

[Mirtilla]

Ok, this is a discussion that my roommate and I had today it is a bit out there, but just think about it. Harry and Hermione are brother and sister. Ok here are the thoughts we had on the subject.

1- Hermione is ten months older then Harry, which makes it possible.
2- Hermione was put up for adoption for one of many reasons:
a- There was a prophecy saying that the Potter's first born would be in great danger from Voldy. Hermione was given up to muggles to protect her from him. Unlucky they miss understood the prophecy, they meant first born son not first born child.
b- Lily was kidnapped by Voldy while she was pregnant with Hermione. Gave birth to her while under his control. Snape was order to kill Hermione, but he could not bring himself to kill her and instead drop Hermione off at a muggle orphanage.
HERMIONE AND HARRY BROTHER??

Harry Potter is not star wars!

[djm]

HERMIONE AND HARRY BROTHER???????????

HARRY POTTER IS NOT STAR WARS!!!!!
Because this means that Voldemort ist their father... :D

[sone]

I have been looking at this thread for quite a while. How can Hermione be a muggleborn witch if she had a magical parent?

[djm]

I have been looking at this thread for quite a while. How can Hermione be a muggleborn witch if she had a magical parent?
I don't know but I think there is no difference between the two kinds of children!? I mean, it isn't written on her forehead...

[sone]

That is my problem is that, it makes sense except for that Hermione cannot be the daughter of Lily if she is indeed a muggleborn witch (she would be a half blood at best) and where would Hermione get the bushy brown hair from.

[mugglemagic]

from another thread that was closed, posted by molly50..

"Has anyone considered that Harry and Hermione are related? Maybe brother and sister? Maybe twins? Her hair is always in a mess and so is his. Their names both start with H. They each have a great abundance of compassion and feel the pain of their friends. I have given this a lot of thought since reading the prophecy. Since Neville was also mentioned by Dumbledore as having been born at the end of the 7th month it is quite possible that it will take all three of them to defeat him. Anyway, it has always bothered me as to why Hermione sought out Harry's friendship because he didn't encourage her and found her to bossy and overprotective. Why? Also, in the beginning she seemed to know an awful lot about the wizarding world for a muggle and had already performed some simple ones. Maybe on the night that James and Lily were murdered they had already delivered her to a safe home with the Grangers (are they really dentists?). It's quite possible that they were getting ready to put Harry in a safe place when Voldemort came. It may have been too dangerous for the Grangers and Hermione if they ever came out and made a claim on Harry as his safe place was sealed by Dumbledore leaving him with the Dursleys. It's just a thought. Anyone else have this theory?"

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Ok well I doubt this could/would be done by JKR, since it sounds A LOT like the Star Wars plot, and would be sued by Lucas. The twin daughter sent to adoptive parents, while the son goes to live with his aunt and uncle (mother's side there too I believe) Then he learns of his powers and faces the evil (let me guess Voldie will turn out to be his real father). And he is guided by Yoda Dumbledore (the great master) who in the last chaper tells him that he has a twin sister, and Voldie will realize that Hermione might be tempted to the dark side and stop the prophecy. Then Harry uses a legitimus spell to see there is still good inside Voldie. Yup that's how book seven will end.

[Mirtilla]

Sone I agree with you
Really guys Harry Potter is not Star Wars and how could Harry and Hermione be raleted if Harry was born on 31 July 1980 and Hermione on 19 september 1980?!?!?

Bye

Mirtilla

[cleansweep11]

Mirtilla is right. Its not star wars.

Hermione can't be harry's twin cuz she's a few months younger then him. Also how can she be his sister if July and September are not 9 months apart.

[Dark_Shadow]

This may have been mentioned, and it probably was but anyways;

Harry was born first. He was born in July. And then in book three Hermione got money from her parents for a birthday present. So she was born in September, after Harry. July and September are not ten months apart. So no, I do not believe that the are related. :no: Just like everyone else said, to much like starwars :huh:

[Girl]

There is nothing much more that I can add. But I also feel like most people here that if Hermione and Harry are related then it's too Star Wars.

Just to add, if they are related then it will take away the magic of Hermione. She is a muggle who is very good at magic, no wizard in her age is as good at spells as her. No one expects a mudblood to be so good and that is what makes her special. If she turns out to be from a wizard family then it will take away what makes her special. She will be just a normal wizard and no one would be surprised that she is so good. For a wizard to be good it is normal but for a mudblood it is special.

Hermione is special and that is why she is not related to Harry.

[Furienna]

No, I don't believe that either. Uh uh... Allthough Hermione could have been adopted away and the Grangers haven't told her about that yet, and Hermione could have born in september another year than 1980, which is Harry's birth year. But JKR has said herself that HP is not Star Wars, so...

[Marcy]

That would be too Star Warsy...


plus...If they were brother and sister then Sirius would have a similar "obsession" for better lack of words with Hermione like he has for harry.

I think Hermione's biological parents are in fact the Grangers...the dentists. They even act like she does...remember they wouldn't let her use magic to shrink her teeth?


I would be very dissapointed if this theory played out to be true....too cliche for my tastes! :whistle: :huh:

[dobby_rocks]

well since Lily was so young when she died not even 23 , i dont think she had time to have other kids. I suppose they may have had a miscarage before Harry. Besides if J and L had had another kid , if it was Herimone i think we would have seen Siruis be just as protective of her as he was with Harry

[LupinMakesMeHowl]

It is quite impossible for Hemrione to be Harry's brother seeing as she is 10 months youngernot older than HArry. Her birthdate (year and all) is available on the CoS DVD on the timeline. And besides, if they were to be related, JKR would have left us with bigger clues, since there is no solid evidence behind this theory.

[Furienna]

It is quite impossible for Hemrione to be Harry's brother seeing as she is 10 months youngernot older than HArry. Her birthdate (year and all) is available on the CoS DVD on the timeline. And besides, if they were to be related, JKR would have left us with bigger clues, since there is no solid evidence behind this theory.

I guess you mean two months younger, not ten months older.

[magicalme]

I dunno... I don't want to believe this, 'cause it would ruin my H/Hr dream completely, but I must admit dtpoet made some very good points.

[Furienna]

I dunno... I don't want to believe this, 'cause it would ruin my H/Hr dream completely, but I must admit dtpoet made some very good points.

Well, I still don't think so, so don't worry, at least not for the time being.

[Dark_Shadow]

They are only two months apart, as it says in the book, so I don't see how this is really possible. It seems to me like some people are implying that Hermione is then lying about her birthday? (or possibly even Harry...?) That or Hermione thinks her birthday is in September but really it's not... err.. :nc:
I don't mean to make anyone mad, (some of you do have good evidence and this is not a bad theory, I just don't believe it is all) this is just what I think. I don't see J.K saying in upcoming books that Hermoine was lying about her birthday and that she is actually Harrys older/younger/twin sister. That seems a bit strange to me :huh:

[Doggy]

Just a question, but.... Why would JKR want to make Hermione Harry's sister? Would Harry's problems somehow all be solved when/if he found out that one of his very best friends was his sister... Of course, it would be fun for him to have some relative who doesn't hate him, but Hermione has got her own family, biological or not. Is she just going to throw them away to give Harry his full support? Harry needs her as a friend, not as a sister

And besides, if that was true, why couldn't Harry have lived with Hermione? He would grow up in a muggle environment, so that wouldn't have to worry Dumbledore (one of the reasons, according to him, that he wanted Harry to stay with the Dursleys) and she would also have Lily's blood in her veins. Miles better than Petunia and Vernon.

[dtpoet]

They are only two months apart, as it says in the book

Um, can you find the DIRECT quote where it is said that their birthdays are two months apart? Or are you just deducing that because his birthday is July and hers is September?

I find on an official Great Britian education website and have heard from various people who live in England that September 1st is the cut-off for schooling. All sources state that exceptions are not to be made. To assume her birthday is after Harry's, Hermione should be in Ginny and Colin's class, not Harry's because her birthday falls after the cut-off. Therefore, she is either 10 months older or JK has made a blunder. Which is it?

dtpoet

[dtpoet]

And besides, if that was true, why couldn't Harry have lived with Hermione? He would grow up in a muggle environment, so that wouldn't have to worry Dumbledore (one of the reasons, according to him, that he wanted Harry to stay with the Dursleys) and she would also have Lily's blood in her veins. Miles better than Petunia and Vernon.

Because then if Volde happened to kill them both, there would be no hope for the wizarding world. If they were separated, then there would always be soemthing Volde didn't know that could aid in his downfall. Dumbledore knew that Volde would come after Harry and even her couldn't predict whether or not he could fully protect Harry. As long as Volde doesn't know about Hermione, then Dumbledore always has one more trick up his sleeve.

dtpoet

[an9elgyrl]

Well that be wrong and gross.... at least for me. Cause i'm one big H/HR shipper and if this turns out to be a Star Wars thing, i promise Harry Potter books will become something i will never touch again. :no:

Also someone posted that they got the offical cut-off date from an England Education site... can i have the link? It's not that i dont believe you, i just i need it for something else.

[an9elgyrl]

Hogwarts is in scotland rite? Anyway i'm not really sure on the Policy Of Scotland Education, so if what i post is wrong please dont laugh.

But i believe this is how it works:
All children who will reach the age of five on or before the start of the new school session in August 2003 should begin to attend primary school in August 2003. Children who reach the age of five after the start of the new school session in August 2003 but before the last day of February 2004 may also be enrolled for primary school in August 2003. Parents* of these children may, however, choose not to enrol their children until August 2004. The Education Service does not normally admit children who are five after the February 2004 closing date, but in all cases the Education Authority will excercise its descretion. Placing requests may be made only in respect of children who are of school age or eligible to attend school because they will be 5 by the February cut-off date.

So wouldn't that mean Harry, Ron, and Hermione are all in the right year and were born in 1980?

But even if i was wrong about everything here, Hogwarts is a special school init? So why would it follow normal Policies of "muggles"? I mean muggles dont give detention (sending kids to a dark dangerous forest) like wizarded do, so why should enrollment be such a big difference?

Love to write more but my ma's having a good rant at me now.... :grumble:
Luv, An9el

[Furienna]

Hogwarts is in scotland rite? Anyway i'm not really sure on the Policy Of Scotland Education, so if what i post is wrong please dont laugh.

But i believe this is how it works:
All children who will reach the age of five on or before the start of the new school session in August 2003 should begin to attend primary school in August 2003. Children who reach the age of five after the start of the new school session in August 2003 but before the last day of February 2004 may also be enrolled for primary school in August 2003. Parents* of these children may, however, choose not to enrol their children until August 2004. The Education Service does not normally admit children who are five after the February 2004 closing date, but in all cases the Education Authority will excercise its descretion. Placing requests may be made only in respect of children who are of school age or eligible to attend school because they will be 5 by the February cut-off date.

So wouldn't that mean Harry, Ron, and Hermione are all in the right year and were born in 1980?

But even if i was wrong about everything here, Hogwarts is a special school init? So why would it follow normal Policies of "muggles"? I mean muggles dont give detention (sending kids to a dark dangerous forest) like wizarded do, so why should enrollment be such a big difference?

Love to write more but my ma's having a good rant at me now.... :grumble:
Luv, An9el

Well, that could be it. Anyway, I don't think JKR would make a mistake about that since she is brittish herself and should know how it works. However, I thought that in UK you started school the term you turned five, but who am I to have any idea about that? But don't brittish schools have detentions?

In Sweden, we usually start school (kindergarten) in August the calendar year we turn six. I, however, am a special case and had to wait til I was seven to start kindergarten.

[iona]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise]ok i think this stuff about hermione being harry's sister is a lot of rubbish, i don't mean to offend any one, but if she was his sister then that would make her adopted, now if you were adopted and then found out you had magical powers wouldn't you want to find your real parents, i also think her adoptive parents would adopt her and a brother if she had one, malfoy calls her a mudblood and it really upsets her i don't think her parents would let her go through that pain of being called that, they'd tell her the truth. plus i think dumbledore would insist harry live with his har.
And finally theres only two months between there birthdays!!!!!!! :drool:

[Jay Potter]

I must applaud you for your brilliant theories and your points... However Hermione is 10 months is younger than Harry. JK said in an interview that Hermione went to Hogwarts at the age of ten. But if you think about it, so did Harry, only the Dursley destroyed them. So we really dont know about this. However Harry and Hermione being sibling is slightly too cliche'd. (star warsy) But on some level J&L might, just might have another kid somewhere. After all it is said that should they still be alive today, they would have been at it like bunnies. But you must also take this into account.. Those were very dark times, and those wanting children would have been wary of doing so... So there might be a chance of them not having any kids before Harry... Very well discussed but it is most likely not happening... (You did manage to convince me for a lil while though ^_^)

[Azimuth]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this already, so sorry if someone has.

What about in PS when Harry was looking into the Mirror of Erised? He saw his entire family looking back at him (well in the book, anyway - in the movie it was just his parents). If Hermione was his sister, surely she would have been in the mirror as well?

[Doggy]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this already, so sorry if someone has.

What about in PS when Harry was looking into the Mirror of Erised? He saw his entire family looking back at him (well in the book, anyway - in the movie it was just his parents). If Hermione was his sister, surely she would have been in the mirror as well?
Very good point Azimuth. On the other hand, I don't think Petunia and Dudley were in the mirror either, Harry would have noticed it. So maybe it only showed the relatives he didn't know. (Because he doesn't exactly know his parents.) Still, Hermione can't be his sister. They don't even look like each other at all.

[Dark_Shadow]

I think that the reason Harry didn't see the Dursleys in the mirror is simply because they are NOT the thing that Harry most desires. He really just wants to be with the family that he saw, the family that he never knew. He really dislikes the Dursleys so that must be the reason that they never showed up in the mirror or erised.

Oh, one more thing, in reply to my saying that Hermione was two months younger than Harry, someone said that can't be possible, that she would then be in the same year as Ginny... How? (I know that while most people people in my Grade 8 class are 13 years old, some are still 12 and will turn 13 in December)

If she entered into her first year at the age of 10, and turned 11 right then in September, (and this is what I think she did, me supporting the fact that she is two months youger) surely its allowed since the cut of is at February, and she did turn 11 before February.

And if she was in Ginny's year I don't really see how that would work out. So Harry and Ron would be in second, and she would be in first, turn 12 right in September and be 12 for the rest of the first year? And Ginny would be 11, possible turning 12 before the year is over, in the summer or when the next year starts (since we don't know Ginnys birthday) I think it's rather safe to assume that for the majority of the first year Ginny would be 11, and so would the majority of the other first year students. Hermione, on the other hand, would then be 12 for the most part. (oh yes, and I'm just using the first year as an example, this would work for any year, just up the age)

Sorry if now I've terribly confused all of you, this all makes perfect sence in my head. So if you need, just ask about something and I'll try to explain as best as possible. And remember, all that stuff above (about Hermione being in Ginny's year and being 12 and how that wouldnt work) it's just because someone said that if Hermione were two months youger than Harry, she would be one year lower.

:)

[zer09ers]

well,maybe harry and hermione are brothers and sisters.well maybe they could be twins.maybe lily gave birth to harry first but then hermione was way above the womb like nothings going on .then 2 months later the doctors call her back then hermione was born.maybe it was like tt.

[Dark_Shadow]

For some reason it would strike me as odd if JK rowling started going into long winded explanations about how Hary was born first or Hermione, they were seperated at birth or Lily was kidnapped or they're twins or so on and so on...

Really, I'm not trying to put anyone down or anything like that. Just posting my veiw on the matter :) As I've said before, i do not think this theory is bad and people have good explanations to back this up. I, personally, just can't see it happening.

[Discordia]

If, and only IF Harry and Hermione are related that it would kind of put a stop to all the Hermione/Harry ships. I don't entirely believe that they are related but if they are than well I don't think that we will see them dating. So I wouldn't be surprised if the Hr/H shippers happen to neglect and ignore this idea bc than it would completely dash all there hopes. It's no wonder that Hr/H shippers would be against this.

[Lady_Black]

But that would completly trash the fact that the pure-bloods arent the best after all..And, well I dont see it. Too..well soap oprah-ey. And Harrys older than Hermy, July 31st and September 1st if Im correct. So its really not possible is it then?

[Discordia]

I didn't wrirte this. I got this from another forum on another site. Do not discount this before you read it. You might actually learn something or come a to a realization. I only half believe in this theory but what you guys think of it is up to you. Some of you will easily say that it makes everything seems to star wars. The same tatctic has been used in a number of other books and Rowling wouldn't be copying Star Wars by doing this. Come on! Is Star Wars the only thing that you can come up with to discount it? Is that the only evidence that you can possibly come up with. No actual evidence from the books? READ IT! YOU may not neccesarrily LIKE the idea but unless you can come up with some valid evidence to dissprove it don't knock it. Don't make presumptions and just gloss it over bc it doesn't fit with your hopes or views on the books and than bash the theory bc it seems like Star Wars. If you're still against it at the end that's find but atleast read it. THINK ABOUT IT!


STS Summary : The Sibling Theory.
Version 4 : December 2003.


STS = “Sibling Theory Supporters”.

The base idea of the Sibling Theory is that Hermione is Harry’s sister, James’s and Lily’s secret daughter.
For a reason we’ll learn later in the story, she was hidden at birth (or possibly a bit later), and her true identity remained a secret – only very few people know. She was raised by adoptive parents : Mr and Mrs Granger.

In a recent interview (June 19th, 2003), JK Rowling said :
There is one thing… it is kind of the heart of it all. And it kind of explains everything and no-one’s quite got there but a couple of people have skirted it. So you know… I couldn’t divert now, everything has been building up to it, and I’ve laid all my clues.

The Sibling Theory is based on many clues from the books (and a few clues from the movies and from interviews given by JK Rowling herself). We’ll examine the clues first, then we’ll see how the theory could work, as well as some possible variants.


THE CLUES :

These are clues to support the theory. Obviously, there is no proof, and there won’t be any until JK decides it is time for the secret to be revealed. Some of the clues are rather vague, but others are pretty strong. And so many different clues point to the same conclusion… so many details fit so well !

Note that several clues imply that Hermione herself knows – or at least suspects – the truth.
On the other hand, Harry doesn’t know - except possibly for a memory hidden very deep in his subconscious.

General clues

- Hermione’s behaviour with Harry.
When reading the books, we have the feeling that Harry and Hermione have a special relation. They have a special thing - beyond friendship - that is not romantic. This is more visible on Hermione’s side. Her behaviour at the beginning of PS (before Harry and her become friends) is very interesting (see below). Through the entire series, her behaviour with Harry is very “sister-like”.
Harry and Hermione have a way of guessing each other’s thoughts : this happens quite often, they know at first glance what the other has in mind while Ron is completely lost. Sometimes, they also finish each other’s sentences (not unlike Fred and George).
Hermione sometimes speaks in Harry’s name (something nobody else does). Examples :
PoA, chapter 11 : “Don’t be silly”, said Hermione in a panicky voice, “Harry doesn’t want to kill anyone, do you, Harry ?”
GoF, chapter 10 : “Ron… Harry doesn’t want to play Quidditch right now… He’s worried, and he’s tired… we all need to go to bed.”
She even speaks in James’s and Lily’s name (something nobody does but their old friends). Example :
PoA, chapter 11 : “Your mum and dad wouldn’t want you to get hurt, would they ? They’d never want you to go looking for Black !”

- In GoF, Hermione wasn’t affected in any way by the rumours about her and Harry. Harry was annoyed, not her. When she read Rita Skeeter’s article “Harry Potter’s Secret Heartache”, she was rather amused… Harry, on the other hand, kept repeating “no she is not my girlfriend”. Does it mean she knew something that allowed her to laugh at these rumours ?
And in OotP, Hermione was perfectly comfortable talking about Harry’s relation with Cho. Even when Harry told her Cho was jealous… she was just “sorry”.
A friend - even a close friend - of the opposite sex should have been at least slightly embarrassed in such a situation. Not Hermione : she just gave Harry more advice… this makes sense if she is Harry’s sister.
By the way, JK has developed this topic (Harry and Hermione causing jealousy) quite a lot already : Rita’s articles, Krum’s jealousy and Harry saying “no she is not my girlfriend” in GoF, then Cho’s jealousy in OotP… So, now what ?
Will she be Harry’s girlfriend after all ? Or will something else be revealed (that will make Krum’s and Cho’s jealousy pointless) ?

- Hermione’s psychology : why is Hermione a “know-it-all” ? Why is it so important for her to be the best student in school ? There is a strange lack of background information concerning Hermione : JK usually tells us about such things. For instance : Ron is a jealous character because of his childhood in the shadow of his brothers. Voldemort hates Muggles because of his father.
The Sibling Theory provides an answer : if Hermione knows that Harry is her brother, she wants to keep up with him ! Harry is “the boy who lived”, he is famous in the entire world ; so, Hermione must prove that she can do as well as he can do, or even better. At least, in class, she can answer questions he can’t !
The other possible answer would be that Hermione must prove she is the best because she is Muggle-born, but this doesn’t work : she was already a “know-it-all” when she first arrived at Hogwarts. If she had been knowing about the wizarding world for a few weeks only, this couldn’t have affected her psychology so quickly.

- And by the way, Hermione really knew a bit too much about the wizarding world and about Harry when she first arrived at Hogwarts…

- Why do we know so little about the Grangers ? They are the parents of one of the main three characters, but we know almost nothing about them, except they are dentists. Why ? Also note that Hermione has never said “mum” or “dad” in the story. It’s always “my parents” or “mum and dad”…
They are Muggles, thus unimportant ? But there are important Muggle characters in the story ! And it’s not just the Dursleys… Why do we know less about Hermione’s parents than we do about the Dursley’s neighbours or about the villagers of Little Hangleton ?

- Physical resemblance is an issue ; JK almost always tells us about features of physical resemblance between relatives : Harry and his parents, Dudley and Vernon, the Weasley family, Draco and his father, Neville and his mother, Fleur and her sister, Viktor Krum and his father, etc…
But NOT Hermione and the Grangers. Even though Hermione is one of the main three characters, and even though we have seen the Grangers twice (in CoS and in OotP), we are never told Hermione looks anything like “mum and dad”. Most unusual for JK !
True, we aren’t told Hermione looks like Harry either (well… except they both have hair problems ! But they don’t have the same hair).
We are told another character in the story has large front teeth : Petunia Dursley (Hermione’s aunt if the theory is true).

- Could there be a riddle in Hermione’s name ? JK likes to play with words and names…
Hermione = “Her my own” or “Her my one”…
This one is quite unsure. See below though (Krum’s pronunciation in GoF).

Clues from book 1

- The very first time we hear about Harry, in chapter 1 :
The Dursleys knew that the Potters had a small son too…
Why this indirect form “the Dursleys knew…” ? What did the Dursleys ignore then ?
A few lines above, we hear about Lily directly from the narrator :
Mrs Potter was Mrs Dursley’s sister…
So, why is it not just : “The Potters had a small son too” ? Because it would not be the complete truth (if the Potters had two children). But the sentence about what the Dursleys knew is the exact truth.

- The first time Hermione and Harry meet in the train… She says :
I’d have found out everything I could if it was me.
Well, yes… It could have been her !

- More about this scene :
Hermione entered Harry’s compartment on the pretext of searching Trevor the toad. But… where was Trevor during all that time ? Did the little toad find his way to the boats all by himself ? Clever Trevor !
Or was he in Hermione’s pocket ? Had she taken the toad just to send Neville look around, and then have a good reason to see her long-lost brother at last ?
Otherwise… it’s a bit strange, the way she came and asked for Trevor : Neville had already asked.
(more about this hint in the movie : see below).

- Just after that : as soon as she hears that Harry and Ron might have been fighting (with Draco), Hermione comes back in a hurry !
You haven’t been fighting, have you ?
It seems that she cares a lot for two boys she had never met before…

- Before Harry and Hermione become friends, Hermione’s behaviour is quite excessive (chapter 9) :
I can’t believe you are going to do this, Harry.
Sure enough, Harry notices it :
Harry couldn’t believe anyone could be so interfering.
At that point, they aren’t friends yet. But if Harry is her brother, and if she knows it, Hermione’s behaviour makes perfect sense. Note that we aren’t told she behaves like that with anyone else at that time.

- JK arranged the plot so that Hermione never looked into the Mirror of Erised, unlike Harry and Ron. Why ? What would she have seen there ? Would this have given away too much ?
(Same as the “Boggart” clue in book 3 : see below).

- The scene before Harry meets Quirrell/Voldemort (chapter 16) :
Hermione’s lips trembled and she suddenly dashed at Harry and threw her arms around him.
This could have been one of the moments she desperately wanted to tell him the truth !
And then she said :
friendship, and bravery, and - oh, Harry
What was she about to say ? Was it and family ?

Clues from book 2

- After Hermione and Penelope have been petrified (chapter 14)… Professor McGonagall goes straight to Harry :
Potter, I think you’d better come with me…
Is it because he is Hermione’s friend ? She would have asked Ron as well, wouldn’t she ?
But she doesn’t seem to care about Ron… She includes him as an afterthought, and only after Ron himself comes running up to them :
Yes, perhaps you’d better come too, Weasley.
Note the “perhaps… too…”
Quite strange, isn’t it ?
Could McGonagall be a H/Hr shipper ? Hmmmm… that wouldn’t make much sense, would it ?
But this is perfectly normal if Hermione is Harry’s sister and McGonagall knows it.

- And a bit later (chapter 16), McGonagall is moved to tears when Harry (not Ron) asks her if they can see Hermione in the Hospital Wing :
Yes, Potter, of course you may visit Miss Granger. (Then she must blow her nose ! )
Again, not a word for Ron…
And note that she is allowing Harry to break a security rule ! It is for security reasons that visits to the Hospital Wing had been forbidden. Not really like Minerva McGonagall, is it ? There must be very exceptional circumstances for her to behave like that ! A secret sibling is a very exceptional circumstance.
She must have thought :
“Poor boy ! He doesn’t know… He doesn’t know, and yet he must feel it somehow… and he misses her.” (At this point, she must blow her nose).

- Being called a Mudblood doesn’t seem to affect Hermione very much, does it ?
OK, it might be because she doesn’t understand what it means at first. However, it still doesn’t affect her very much in GoF (Malfoy) and OotP (Malfoy and Kreacher). And at that time, she does know what it means.
This could be because she is not really Muggle-born. Just pretending.

Clues from book 3

- Lupin’s class with the Boggart (chapter 7)… All students fight the Boggart except Harry and Hermione.
Lupin didn’t allow Harry to do it because he was afraid (wrongly) that the Boggart would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort. But why didn’t Hermione fight the Boggart ?
Well… A Boggart can give away quite a lot. For instance, Lupin’s Boggart (the moon) does reveal his big secret. So, this should mean either that Lupin didn’t want Hermione to do it (because he personally knows the truth or possibly because Dumbledore had told him “Miss Granger shouldn’t do it” ) or that Hermione herself didn’t want to fight the Boggart in public (and stayed behind during the lesson).
And by the way, when Hermione finally fought a Boggart during her exam (chapter 16), nobody but her could see what shape it assumed… did she tell the truth ? Was it really McGonagall telling her she had failed her exam ? A bit ridiculous, isn’t it ?
What was Hermione’s Boggart ? Was it Voldemort ? Was it Voldemort trying to kill Harry ?

- Why did JK want Hermione to hide a big secret (the Time Turner) during all book 3 ? Was it to get the readers prepared to the idea that keeping a secret is a very serious thing for Hermione ?
Does it mean we should expect a much bigger secret about her to be revealed in the end ?

- At the end of book 3, when Harry creates his stag Patronus, Prongs symbolically comes back to save three people from the Dementors : Harry, Hermione and Sirius.
In a symbolic way, James Potter “comes back” for his son, his daughter and his best friend.

- Chapter 22 : In the train returning to London, talking about the Time Turner, Ron says to Hermione :
I still can’t believe you didn’t tell us about it… We’re supposed to be your friends.
Hermione answers :
“I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
She looked around at Harry…
“Oh, cheer up Harry !” – said Hermione sadly.
(The words friends and anyone are emphasised in the book, strongly suggesting that someone present – Harry – is more than a friend to Hermione).
Quite clear isn’t it ? She is talking about secrets and about not telling, then immediately she looks around at Harry ! And she feels sad for him : if only she could tell him right now ! But no : she can’t. Harry has to go to those Dursleys…
Otherwise, why would she speak “sadly” ? Not the best way to improve Harry’s spirits, is it ?

Clues from book 4

- BIG hint… Chapter 13, Divination class :
“I’ve got two Neptunes here,” said Harry after a while, frowning down at his piece of parchment, “that can’t be right, can it ?”
Well… can it ? The interesting thing is that Harry seems doubtful.
Ron immediately makes a joke about Harry’s birth, but it would be very much JK’s style to hide an important clue by having someone make a joke about it. And Ron’s joke ( “a sure sign a midget in glasses is being born” ) emphasises that it is all about Harry’s birth.
This wouldn’t be true divination anyway : Harry was quite tired after his complicated planetary calculations concerning his own birth, and his subconscious memory might have influenced him into finding this result…
Neptune is associated with hidden memory… He has a hidden memory of duality… two children… So he finds “two Neptunes”.
This one strongly suggests twins ! ( “A sure sign twins are being born” ).
Note that Harry’s hidden memory is important in the story : his memory of “a flash of green light” in PS, the Dementors in PoA. So, the fact Neptune is the planet associated with hidden memory is probably not a coincidence.

- Chapter 23 : Krum is trying to pronounce Hermione’s name…
”Her-my-oh-nee”, she said, slowly and clearly.
“Herm-own-ninny”.
“Close enough”, she said, catching Harry’s eye and grinning.
Was that really “close enough” ? Hummmm… and she “catches Harry’s eye” just at that moment.
“Ninny” is a mere joke, but it could mean she is “hermy-own-???” for Harry…

- BIG hint (chapter 24) : at the Three Broomsticks pub, Rita Skeeter is trying to get one last interview from Harry.
About Hagrid, she asks him :
Would you call him a father substitute ?
Hermione’s reaction is immediate and extremely violent ; she stands up
very abruptly, her Butterbeer clutched in her hand as though it was a grenade.
Why ? After all, these words were nothing worse than what Rita had been saying before. In fact, compared to Rita’s normal standards, this was almost nice ! And not completely wrong…
Obviously, it is the words “a father substitute” that triggered Hermione’s reaction. Quite normal if “mum and dad” are not her true parents.

Clues from book 5

- Chapter 4 :
Hermione had thrown herself on to him in a hug that nearly knocked him flat…
“Let him breathe, Hermione”, said Ron…
Note that before Ron tells her “let him breathe”, Hermione is making a fairly long speech… “I’ve looked it up, they can’t expel you, it’s just outrageous…” while still hugging Harry.

- Chapter 9 : the Prefect’s badges have just arrived.
First part : She spotted the badge in Harry’s hand and let out a shriek.
“I knew it !” she said excitedly, brandishing her letter. “Me too, Harry, me too !”
“No,” said Harry quickly…
Second part : a bit later, Ron shows his mother his prefect’s badge.
Mrs Weasley let out a shriek just like Hermione’s.
“I don’t believe it ! I don’t believe it ! Oh, Ron, how wonderful ! A prefect ! That’s everyone in the family !”
“What are Fred and I, next-door neighbours ?” said George indignantly…
See ? Why does JK insist on the similarity ?
“A shriek just like Hermione’s”…
Because it is for just the same reason :
“That’s everyone in the family !”

- BIG hint. Chapter 25, Hagrid tells Harry they are very much alike :
”In the same boat, yeh an’ me, aren’ we, ‘Arry ?”
“Er –“ said Harry.
“Yeah… I’ve said it before… both outsiders, like”, said Hagrid, nodding wisely. “An’ both orphans. Yeah… both orphans”…
“Family,” said Hagrid gloomily. “Whatever yeh say, blood’s important…”
In chapter 30, we understand – at last - what Hagrid meant. His giant brother Grawp !
So, “ In the same boat, yeh an’ me, aren’ we, ‘Arry ?” must be a foreshadowing : in the end, Harry should find his lost sibling too !
But in OotP, all that happened is that he lost “the closest thing to a parent he had ever known”. Something should happen later to compensate this…
And note that the entire “Grawp” story is between Hagrid, Harry and Hermione. Ron takes no part in it… It’s all about lost relatives !

- Hermione and Rita again, chapter 25 :
“It’s none of your business if Harry’s been with a hundred girls,” Hermione told Rita coolly.
(The word your is emphasised in the book).
It seems Hermione considers it’s Harry’s business… as well as hers ! Harry doesn’t say anything : she is speaking for him !

- The way Hermione behaves with Harry and Cho is rather interesting. Chapter 26 :
“You should have said it was really annoying…
And it might have been a good idea to mention how ugly you think I am too,” Hermione added as an afterthought.
“But I don’t think you’re ugly,” said Harry, bemused.
Harry had just told her the way Cho had got jealous of her…
1- If she was just a friend for Harry, even a very close friend… well, she would have been at least slightly embarrassed, wouldn’t she ?
2- If she had romantic feelings for Harry, then she should have been very embarrassed.
3- But her reaction was exactly what Harry’s secret sister would have done !

- Chapter 27 : Hermione’s Patronus is an otter.
Patronus otter… P/otter…
Note that in chapter 9, Lucius Malfoy had called Harry “Patronus Potter”.

- Why is Hermione nagging Harry so badly about his Occlumency lessons ? Is it because she is thinking :
“Come on, Harry ! If you mastered Occlumency, then maybe I’d be allowed to tell you !”
(See below : the reason why Harry mustn’t know the truth).

- OotP, chapter 31 (OWLs) :
“I mistranslated ehwaz,” said Hermione furiously. “It means partnership, not defence ; I mixed it up with eihwaz.”
The point is : these runes really exist ! Here is what they mean :
1- “Ehwaz” : symbol shaped like a “M”.
Partnership, Harmony, Duality, Horse (or two horses), Ideal marriage or partnership AND…
“Ehwaz is the rune associated with twin gods, heroes or horses.”
Twin heroes !!! Yes, “Ehwaz” can mean that !
2- “Eihwaz” : symbol shaped vaguely like a lightning bolt.
Yew tree, Strength, Endurance, Defence, Protection.
This clue can support the idea that Hermione has a key role in Harry's protection, a bit like Petunia (as we know Lily’s blood is Harry’s protection).
Here is how it could work :
Hermione must translate Ehwaz, which can mean “twin heroes”... so obviously she thinks of her brother Harry and she mixes it up with Eihwaz. Why ? Because the Eihwaz rune looks a bit like Harry's scar, because it can mean “protection” (this would be Hermione’s task ) and “yew tree” (the wand that gave Harry his scar is made of yew).

- Overall, Hermione spends very little time with her “parents”. First, she spends most of July cleaning Sirius’s house with Ron and the Weasleys. If she saw “mum and dad” that summer, it’s at most for a week or so. Then, she doesn't go home for the holidays. She blows off the ski trip her parents had planned. She says, “they'll understand”. Will they ? Will it be because a friend's father was nearly killed or because she knows and they know that they are not her biological parents ?

Clues from movie 1

- Trevor the toad again : from the book to the movie, the place where Neville finds his toad changes. In the movie, it is in the castle, during McGonagall’s speech…. and just in front of Hermione !

- When the three are climbing the stairs, Ron says to Harry :
It’s spooky : she knows more about you than you do.
Harry answers :
Who doesn’t ?
Well… if Ron, who comes from an old wizarding family, finds it “spooky” then it means Hermione knows considerably more about Harry than other people do. Not bad for a girl who is supposed to have been knowing she is a witch for only a few weeks ! But if Harry is her brother, and if she knows the truth, this is perfectly normal !

Clues from movie 2

- The hug scene in the end. Hermione is very comfortable hugging Harry (not Ron).

Clues from JK Rowling’s interviews

- During a chat (AOL chat, 04/2000) someone asked JK about a possible Harry-Hermione romance in the future books. She answered :
…as for Harry and Hermione, d’you really think they’re suited ?
So, what did these words mean ?
1- Most R/Hr shippers would answer this just means they are not suited. But why ? And if it was so simple, why would JK have given away that much ?
2- For H/Hr shippers, JK made an ambiguous answer and no conclusion is possible… Maybe the answer was a humorous one…. “well, yes they are !” However, this would be very misleading !
3- The Sibling Theory fits perfectly here :
“…as for Harry and Hermione, d’you really think they’re suited ? Wait till you know who they really are !”
The answer is not misleading… yet JK isn’t giving away the main piece of information ! Brilliant !

- Something else JK said :
Q : Do Harry and Hermione have a date?
JKR : No, they're very platonic friends. But I won't answer for anyone else... nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
Again, the Sibling Theory fits perfectly… JK said it herself : “wink, wink.”

- Yet another quote :
She is the most brilliant of the three and they need her. Harry needs her badly.
What does Harry need badly ? What was his vision in the Mirror of Erised ? His “heart’s greatest desire” ?
Family !
So… of course he needs her badly !
This could also support the Protection Theory (see below).

- JK once said Hermione’s name is based on Shakespeare.
The Hermione in “A Winter’s Tale” went into hiding for 16 years. If the truth about Harry’s sister is revealed before the end, that’s about the time she will have been “hiding”.

- During the BBC TV show “Harry and Me”, JK showed a few items to the camera. These included a school-list. You can have a look at the pictures here :
http://www.fictionalley.org/harryandme (http://www.fictionalley.org/harryandme)
http://www.crusaders.no/~afhp/notebook/ (http://www.crusaders.no/~afhp/notebook/)
It seems JK changed Hermione’s name : she had originally named her Hermione Puckle (?) She changed the name to Granger later. This implies that :
1 - Harry and Hermione are together in this alphabetical list, as all other siblings are (the Patil sisters for instance).
2 - When JK first created Hermione, she gave her the initials “H.P.”
She changed it later, probably because it would give away too much !
This could support the twin-theory.

- Here is what JK said on June 19th, 2003 (just before the release of OotP) :
JP: So there will be some pairing up will there in this book?
JKR: Well in the fullness of time.
JP: Unlikely pairings? Not Hermione and Draco Malfoy or anything like that?
JKR: I don’t really want to say as it will ruin all the fan sites. They have such fun with their theories … and it is fun, it is fun. And some of them even get quite close. No-one has ever - I have gone and looked at some of it and no-one’s ever … There is one thing that if anyone guessed I would be really annoyed as it is kind of the heart of it all. And it kind of explains everything and no-one’s quite got there but a couple of people have skirted it. So you know, I would be pretty miffed after thirteen or fourteen years of writing the books if someone just came along and said I think this will happen in book seven. Because it is too late, I couldn’t divert now, everything has been building up to it, and I’ve laid all my clues.
So, now we know there is a Central Secret in the story ! The “heart of it all” ! And it must affect character “shipping” somehow (the question was about shipping).
The Sibling Theory fits : it does affect “shipping” of course (as it makes one of the most popular ships impossible), and it can certainly be “the heart of it all”, the secret that “kind of explains everything” (especially if Hermione is “the one” in the prophecy, OR if she is the key to Harry’s protection). And many, many clues have been “building up to it”.


THE THEORY, AND POSSIBLE VARIANTS :

- Why was Hermione hidden ?
Before OotP, the answer was quite simple : she was hidden for her own security, to protect her from Voldemort. The idea was that Voldemort was after the Potter bloodline. Now we know the reason why Voldemort wanted to kill Harry (the prophecy), and it is more difficult to answer this question.
One thing remains : she was hidden so that Voldemort wouldn’t know.
1- Maybe she was hidden so that Voldemort could not use her against Harry somehow… What could Voldemort do if he knew ? There are many frightening possibilities…
2- Another possibility : it has something to do with the prophecy. Hermione is involved. This idea works best with the twin-theory (see below). We can’t be 100% sure that “the one” mentioned in the prophecy is a boy : after all, “the one” could mean a baby of unknown gender, who would be referred to as “he” in the prophecy. As for the mark, Voldemort can still mark someone else before the end… Hermione could be “the one”.
3- It is also possible that Hermione is important for Harry’s protection. We know Harry is protected by “his mother’s blood”. It works with Petunia. Could it work with Hermione ? In that case, the fact Voldemort ignores the existence of this particular protection could be, in the end, the key to his downfall.
The Ehwaz/Eihwaz clue (see above) can support this idea.
However, this can’t be the reason why she was hidden initially : Harry’s protection by Lily’s blood is something that came later, after Lily’s sacrifice.
4- It is possible to combine the two previous ideas : Hermione was initially hidden because of the prophecy. When it became clear the prophecy was about her brother, Dumbledore decided it was best to keep the secret, because Hermione could – later – give Harry a protection Voldemort wouldn’t be aware of.
5- Or maybe it is something else, something we’ll learn later. Anyway, whatever it is, it must be something essential, the heart of the entire plot.

Among these ideas, the “protection theory” is possibly the one that could work best – and the favourite of many STS. Thus, it has been detailed in an appendix : see below.

- How old is Hermione ?
When she was asked Hermione’s birthday, JK answered “September 19th”.
The question of Hermione’s age (is she older or younger than Harry) is still debated among fans – independently from the Sibling Theory.
For the Sibling Theory, there are 3 possibilities :
1- Older sister (10 months older than Harry) : this is quite possible considering that she and Harry are in the same year at Hogwarts. There is strong evidence in GoF that the cut-off-date for Hogwarts is September 1st (Angelina was 6th year in GoF, and she turned 17 in October), as it is in Muggle schools in England (strict rule). A younger Hermione should be in the same year as Ginny. But the older Hermione theory contradicts the CoS DVD timeline.
2- Younger sister (50 days younger than Harry) : impossible without some Time-affecting Magic. Sure there are things in the Room of Time in the Department of Mysteries that could allow this… Note that in OotP, Hermione was awe-struck in that room…
3- Twin sister : Hermione was born on July 31st, and September 19th is only her “official” birthday. Maybe she went to her adoptive parents on September 19th… Anyway, this idea could really make sense if the reason she was originally hidden has something to do with the prophecy (as Voldemort would be after children born at the end of July, giving her a fake birth-date as well as a new name would be a good idea). Note that the only time we saw Hermione get a birthday present (in PoA), it was an early present !

- When did Hermione go to the Grangers ?
Several possibilities : at birth, after 50 days (with the twin theory), a bit later, after Voldemort killed the Potters. In the later case, she could have been present (just hidden) the night Voldemort killed Lily and James…

- Who knows the truth ?
Very few people do.
The Potters obviously knew. They probably told Dumbledore (although we know James had been hiding things from him… the fact he was an animagus for instance).
The Grangers must know. Based on the clues, McGonagall knows the truth, and maybe Lupin (not sure).
STS members have different opinions about what Hermione herself knows. Three main theories here :
1- Hermione knows that Harry is her brother, and she already knew it before she first arrived at Hogwarts.
2- Hermione arrived at Hogwarts with no certitude, just suspicions. She got a certitude later (possibly in PoA).
3- Hermione still has only suspicions.

- Why not tell Harry ?
Because Harry has a mind connection with Voldemort. And if it is of utmost importance that Voldemort ignores the truth, then telling Harry would be too risky.
If Hermione herself knows the truth, then Dumbledore or McGonagall made her promise not to tell.


OBJECTIONS AND ANSWERS :

- Dumbledore says in PS that the Dursleys are Harry’s only left family.
I’ve come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. They’re the only family he has left now.
Given the context, Dumbledore probably means “the only family that can take care of him”… Adult relatives. Not other babies… This is why he doesn’t mention Dudley. So, he doesn’t mention Hermione either.
(Otherwise… Dumbledore’s sentence would imply that Dudley is not Harry’s cousin ! )
Besides, “left” doesn’t mean the same thing as “alive”. Dumbledore’s sentence could mean :
“His parents are dead and his sister is gone. So, his aunt and uncle are the only family he has left”.
Dumbledore is talking to McGonagall (who knows the truth) : he is not lying to her… She can understand what he means.

- But it is said in book 3 (chapter 1) and 4 (chapter 2) that Vernon, Petunia and Dudley are Harry’s only living relatives. And this time, it is said directly by the narrator…
Does the narrator always say the “absolute” truth, or just the truth from Harry’s point of view ?
It is quite clear that in all chapters where Harry is present (which means all the time except in book 1 chapter 1 and book 4 chapter 1), the narrator gives us Harry’s vision of things, NOT the “absolute” truth.
For instance : in GoF, the narrator often says “Moody did this” or “Moody said that”, which is the truth from Harry’s point of view. An omniscient narrator would have said “Crouch”, not “Moody”.
And Harry obviously has no doubt that the Dursleys ARE his only living relatives. But he can be wrong…

- When looking into the Mirror of Erised, Harry doesn’t see Hermione.
As Dumbledore himself explains, the Mirror cannot give anyone Knowledge or Truth. Thus, if Harry has secret relatives, he can’t learn anything about them from the Mirror.
What he can see is simply his heart’s greatest desire, an image from his own subconscious (maybe it’s a subconscious memory, people he had actually seen when he was a baby – this is the case for James and Lily anyway).
And even if Hermione was in the picture, would Harry be able to recognise a 1 year old baby Hermione ?
Actually, the fact Dumbledore told Harry that the Mirror can’t give knowledge – while Harry was looking at his family – strongly suggests there is something about his family Harry doesn’t know (and couldn’t learn from the Mirror) : a secret relative !

- In CoS, the Basilisk attacked Hermione. So, she must be Muggle-born.
First, Hermione was with Penelope. So, Penelope could have been the target, and Hermione just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
And even if Hermione was the target, this doesn’t prove anything : the Basilisk was just a tool - it attacked whoever Tom Riddle told it to attack.
Muggle-borns of course, but also a cat, and also Harry in the end.
As Tom Riddle believed Hermione was Muggle-born (because Ginny believed it), he could have sent the Basilisk after her anyway.

- Hermione being Muggle-born is important : she illustrates the fact a Muggle-born can be a powerful wizard/witch. If it is revealed that Hermione is not Muggle-born, this message will be lost.
But another character could illustrate the same fact. Lily, for instance.
And the revelation that Hermione is not Muggle-born will make her behaviour in CoS appear heroic indeed ! She was pretending she was Muggle-born while Muggle-borns were being attacked, but she kept the secret.

- An important message in the story is that it is our choices that really matter. Not blood. Hermione is already Harry’s friend. Why make her his sister ?
Before OotP, this was a serious objection.
But in OotP, things have become more complex : as Hagrid says, blood is important. Really important. NOT the way it is important for the Dark Side (purity of blood). But it makes a huge difference, having someone who is really your brother (Hagrid), or your mother’s sister (Harry).
OotP, chapter 2 : And all of a sudden, for the very first time in his life, Harry fully appreciated that Aunt Petunia was his mother’s sister. He could not have said why this hit him so very powerfully at this moment.
OotP, chapter 25 : “Family,” said Hagrid gloomily. “Whatever yeh say, blood’s important…”

- A lost sister… This has been done before !
Has it ? http://darkmark.com/forum/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Well, almost everything has been done before. Eternal myths belong to no one !
A good little orphan who has hidden powers… A Dark Lord… All these ideas have been used before too, and more than just once ! And yet, JK has written an original story based on this. So, why not a secret sister ?
Besides, a secret sister who knows the truth but can’t tell would be quite an original idea !


APPENDIX 1 : THE PROTECTION THEORY

The Protection Theory is one possible variant of the Sibling Theory. The base idea is that Hermione is – much like Petunia – essential for Harry’s protection. We know the ancient magic Dumbledore invoked protects Harry against Voldemort (and against Voldemort’s followers) when he is where his “mother’s blood dwells” :
While you can still call home the place where your mother's blood dwells, there you cannot be touched or harmed by Voldemort.

- Hermione's existence was hidden. Initially, it was for another reason, because Harry's protection by his mother's blood is something that came later - after Lily's sacrifice. With the twin theory, this initial reason was probably the prophecy. If Hermione is older, it must be something else.
- Lily gave her life to save Harry. Thus she gave him the protection that caused Voldemort's curse to backfire.
- Then, Dumbledore decided that Lily's blood was the best protection he could give Harry, so he invoked this “ancient magic” and he delivered him to Petunia.

Now, WHY did Harry have to go to the Dursleys ? If the “lingering protection” that had once saved him was still in his blood, he was protected against Voldemort anywhere, wasn't he ? But Dumbledore clearly said in OotP that he had sent Harry to Privet Drive in order to protect him : “there you cannot be touched or harmed by Voldemort”.

The answer must be : Lily's protection was a “one time” thing. It saved Harry directly once, just once. In order for this protection to continue, it had to be carried by someone else, someone of “Lily's blood” : Petunia or Hermione. Lily’s sacrifice is still protecting Harry indirectly.
- Harry is safe at Privet Drive, because his mother's blood dwells there (Petunia) and he can call this place “home”.
- He is safe at Hogwarts too, because this is a place he can call “home” (very often in the story), and Hermione is there : this is why Quirrell couldn’t touch Harry at the end of PS.

Note that if Lily’s direct protection was a “one time” thing, then the events at the end of PS imply that there must be someone of Lily's blood at Hogwarts ! Hermione Granger ! By the way, her name could be symbolic of grange/farm or “home”. Family. Her-my-own Home ?

Also note that Voldemort believes he has overcome Lily’s lingering protection at the end of GoF by taking Harry's blood. But then, how could an extension of this protection (Dumbledore's ancient magic) possibly still work ? The Protection Theory answers this : Voldemort is wrong, he hasn't overcome anything at all at the end of GoF ! (He could touch Harry only because Harry wasn’t “at home” in that graveyard).

This Protection Theory explains quite a lot :

Chronology :

At the beginning of PS : Harry is protected directly (just once) by Lily's sacrifice. Later, he will be protected indirectly by this sacrifice, through someone else - Petunia or Hermione, through Dumbledore’s “ancient magic”. And this is the reason why Dumbledore decided to keep Hermione’s true origin a secret : Voldemort wouldn’t be aware of this protection.

The Protection Theory fits nicely with the fact Hermione was told the Secret. In order for the protection to be effective, the person carrying it must be aware of what is going on.
This is the case with Petunia : Dumbledore had to write her a letter explaining everything, and when she took Harry, she knew what she was doing. If Harry had been delivered to the Dursleys without a word, then the protection wouldn't have been activated.
Same thing for Hermione : some months before Hogwarts, Dumbledore must have told her the truth, and she agreed she would look after Harry. And that's exactly what she did... That's why “Harry couldn't believe anyone could be so interfering” before they became friends.

End of PS : Quirrell can't touch Harry because he is at Hogwarts, and Hermione is there (not far away).

End of CoS : Is the Chamber part of Hogwarts ? Anyway, this was not Voldemort, this was Riddle as he was long before Lily's sacrifice.

End of PoA : as far as we know, these Dementors were not Voldemort’s servants…

End of GoF : In the graveyard, Voldemort can touch Harry.
He believes this is because he has taken Harry's blood, but he is wrong ! This is just because they are in a place where Harry has no protection.
Voldemort is aware of Harry's protection through Petunia, but he knows nothing about Hermione. So, he wrongly believes he can now touch Harry, even at Hogwarts... maybe this will be his downfall later (thus Dumbledore's gleam of triumph ? )

Something about the third task : why couldn't Barty make a Portkey earlier ? Why bother with the Tournament and all that ? Couldn't Barty have turned anything into a Portkey months before and said “take this, Potter !”
Here is a possible answer :
- Voldemort knows Harry is protected at Hogwarts (although he doesn't really understand the nature of this protection : he believes it's Dumbledore… This is not completely wrong, by the way : it’s actually Dumbledore who invoked the ancient magic protecting Harry).
- So, Voldemort and Barty don't want to try the Portkey thing right under Dumbledore's nose (besides... it wouldn't work ! As this Portkey would be “hostile magic from a follower of the Dark Lord”, then Hermione's protection would block it the moment Harry touches it).
- The maze of the third task probably had very strong protections against outside interference (to prevent cheating... Barty did cheat, but only near the outside of the maze). The centre of the maze (where the Cup stood) was probably out of reach of any kind of external influence, of any kind of protection. Technically, the centre of the maze wasn't part of Hogwarts. Seconds before he entered the maze, Harry looked at Hermione in the crowd (and at Ron, Bill and Molly). One last glance... he enters the maze and everything becomes silent (he can no longer hear the crowd outside)... he is cut from her, he has temporarily lost his protection. At the centre of the maze, the Portkey can work and bring him to the Dark Lord !

End of OotP : the Ministry of Magic is not a place Harry can call “home”.

End of book 7 (?)
The final battle should take place at Hogwarts, and the protection Voldemort isn’t aware of will save Harry.
And as the trace of Lily's sacrifice is now in Voldemort's blood (since he took Harry’s blood in GoF), he might be “human enough” to die :
- Voldemort casts the AK spell at Harry (they are at Hogwarts, and Hermione is at Harry's side).
- Lily's sacrifice protects Harry once more (because Hermione is present). The AK spell is turned back at Voldemort.
- But this time, Voldemort can't survive as he had done years before, because he is “human enough” to die. The end.


APPENDIX 2 : VARIOUS IDEAS

These ideas have been proposed by STS members. They are not essential to the Sibling Theory… But they could work with the theory.

- Professor McGonagall has a daughter, who was at Hogwarts with James and Lily. This girl was Lily’s best friend, and she knew James very well too because they were playing Quidditch in the same team.
Later, when James and Lily were killed, MacGonagall’s daughter adopted her best friend’s child and became Hermione’s adoptive mother : she is Mrs Granger, and Mr Granger is her Muggle husband.
So, Hermione is Minerva McGonagall’s adoptive grand-daughter.
The only clue to support this idea is in movie 1 : when Hermione shows Harry his father’s name on the Quidditch Shield, the name “McGonagall” is clearly visible.

- Caradoc Dearborn (the member of the original Order of the Phoenix who vanished) had something to do with Hermione’s secret.

- Various ideas have been discussed about the Marauders Map. As Harry has never seen Hermione on the Map, we are not sure how she would show up… Possibly as “Hermione Potter”, but maybe as “Hermione Granger” if she was legally adopted (and if “legally” means something for the Map).
Also, JK made sure the Map was returned to one of its creators (Moony) in PoA. Lupin kept it for several months, so he might have “fixed” the problem somehow… he could have made sure “Hermione Potter” doesn’t show up. After all… why was he looking at the Map in the first place the night he saw Harry, Ron, Hermione, Pettigrew and Sirius Black ?

- The Fidelius Charm is used to protect important secrets. So, maybe the secret of Hermione's birth was protected that way.
Before Hermione goes to the Grangers, the secret of her birth is protected by the Fidelius Charm. The Potters, the Grangers, Dumbledore and McGonagall all know the truth, but only the Secret Keeper (Dumbledore ? ) can tell other people.
This could be the reason why James couldn't tell Sirius ! Or, if you suppose Sirius knew the truth, this could be the reason why Sirius couldn't tell Harry !
Later, the Secret Keeper decides to tell Hermione. It's safe to do so : she can't tell anyone else - because she is NOT the Secret Keeper. Why tell Hermione ? Possibly because she will be important for Harry's protection, so she must know the truth (Protection Theory). Or possibly because the Secret Keeper knows Harry and Hermione will be at Hogwarts together. And he understands that it is safer to have one of them know the truth. Otherwise... two teenagers, who will get older... you see the point.
But Harry mustn't know the truth. His mind connection with Voldemort would make it too dangerous :
“I guessed, fifteen years ago,” said Dumbledore, “when I saw the scar on your forehead, what it might mean. I guessed that it might be the sign of a connection forged between you and Voldemort.”
Legilimency is not thought-reading, as Snape explains in OotP. It's more about feeling someone's emotions. Voldemort could perceive the nature of Harry's feelings, of his emotions... and understand. At least, he could understand enough for Hermione to be in great danger after that…
So, in the story, there is Harry who musn't know the truth, and Hermione who does know but can't tell.
She fully understands that she mustn't tell Harry, but even if she accidentally was about to do so, the Fidelius Charm would prevent her.
“... friendship, and bravery and - (here the Fidelius Charm blocks her) oh, Harry !”

- Several different ideas have been proposed as for how Harry will eventually learn the truth :
1- He will find it in his own memory,
2- Voldemort will find it… so there will be no point hiding the truth from Harry anymore,
3- Harry will learn Occlumency. Once he is able to close his mind, Hermione or Dumbledore will tell him,
4- Harry will see “Hermione Potter” on the Marauders Map (interestingly enough, he has never seen Hermione on the Map up to now).
5- JK once said Professor McGonagall has a magical quill that writes the names of all magical babies into a book when they are born (this is how she can send them an owl when they turn 11). The book is kept in McGonagall’s office. So, it is possible that Harry will somehow find this book and read : “Potter, Harry - Potter, Hermione”.
6- Harry will see it in Dumbledore’s Pensieve.
7- During the final battle, Harry will realise Voldemort cannot harm him when he is at Hogwarts. Just like when he is at Privet Drive in his aunt’s house. So, he will understand that “his mother’s blood” is at Hogwarts…
8- In the end, Hermione will fulfil the prophecy by killing Voldemort, after Voldemort will have “marked” her with a scar. At that time, Harry will understand.

[mugglemagic]

Ok. stopped reading half way through, but here are my thoughts.

Although you say most things are "already done before" I still fell if this were true, George Lucas would sue, and very likely win.

next.. Since Peter was considered a close friend up until the Potters' deaths, he would almost definitely know if there was another child and therefore have told V.

As for the movie hugs, the actress did not want to hug both boys. She was young and still not comfortable it seems. so just a handshake for Ron.

It is easy to make theories and use bits and pieces to justify many things. Does not make it true.

but I guess we'll all see when the next two books come out.

[ProngsLives]

i kinda agree here's why:

1. i think that she was born 1981 and is because she seemed so intelligable that she skipped a year and would have been a monthe when lily and james died

2. ginny and hermione seem close is this because they are almost the same age

3. harry and hermoine have really messy hair like james, her hair is brown alburn sorta like lily and her eyes are brownish like james

4. hermione is really good at magic just like lily and james and doesnt really have to try like them. she is also head of her class like them

5. if harry was in danger and dd thought it neccessary he could have put up adoption system if vouldy didnt know about hermione yet because she was so young. i mean did hagrid stop anywhere else one his trip to the dursley's

6. harry and hermoine have a very brother/ sister like relationship and even though they originally didnt get along they became friends after the troll insident even though they did the saving

7. harry always is trying to protect her, like a big brother
a. he thouht of her right away in ss when the troll came in; it was halloween too when lily and james died ( maybe a automatic worry?)
b. he got really ditrougt when she was petrified in cos (ok they are friends but still)
c. he wanted to save her first in poa when the dementors attached
d. in gof he thought first when krum attached him that hermoine was wrong not that ron was right
e. he gave her directions in ootp to escape to tell the others and protected her from grawp.

8. they both thought it was funny they would date (like a bro and sis)

9. harry never liked her though she helps him all the time and is sometimes accused as being his hotie

10. she acts like lily defending others like snape and nevielle and harry is like james both like identical and so on...


so thats just the tip of the iceburg; she also always seems to need a little bit of protecting ( maybe a clue form 'A winters tale' )

look for other instances its fun!!!

luv rachel

[cleansweep11]

i kinda agree here's why:

1. i think that she was born 1981 and is because she seemed so intelligable that she skipped a year and would have been a monthe when lily and james died



At hogwarts,they don't go by year in school you are but by age. She couldn't possibley be of lily because harry is only 2 months older then her.
2. ginny and hermione seem close is this because they are almost the same age

As people grow up a year doesn't make that much difference in age as it does when your young. Notice that Luna and Harry seem close in age but we know thats impossible that they are the same age.


3. harry and hermoine have really messy hair like james, her hair is brown alburn sorta like lily and her eyes are brownish like james

I have friends who look similar to me. Does that mean that there related to me?

4. hermione is really good at magic just like lily and james and doesnt really have to try like them. she is also head of her class like them

like looks alot of people can be smart. Think of it this way. In each year someone has to be the head of each class. That doesn't mean there all related to each other(Inless they were all Weasleys that is! :D )

5. if harry was in danger and dd thought it neccessary he could have put up adoption system if vouldy didnt know about hermione yet because she was so young. i mean did hagrid stop anywhere else one his trip to the dursley'sPossible yes,but as I said before Hermione and Harry are only about 2 months apart.

6. harry and hermoine have a very brother/ sister like relationship and even though they originally didnt get along they became friends after the troll insident even though they did the saving

As JKR said Defeating a mountain troll is one of those things that makes you friends. Brothers and sisters aren't always friends.

7. harry always is trying to protect her, like a big brother
a. he thouht of her right away in ss when the troll came in; it was halloween too when lily and james died ( maybe a automatic worry?)
b. he got really ditrougt when she was petrified in cos (ok they are friends but still)
c. he wanted to save her first in poa when the dementors attached
d. in gof he thought first when krum attached him that hermoine was wrong not that ron was right
e. he gave her directions in ootp to escape to tell the others and protected her from grawp.

Ok. THEY ARE FRIENDS! Friends protect each other. In fact most human's would protect someone they didn't know let alone a friend. Harry thinks about people. He's a very thoughtfull person. Oh so maybe thats why he thought of hermione. In CoS if you saw your best friend(one of them) petriefied as if dead how would you react? And for all those who are H/Hr shippers maybe this is a clue for that!(Not that I am one. I'm R/Hr all the way!)

8. they both thought it was funny they would date (like a bro and sis)

Sometimes its hard and funny to think of dating just a friend.

9. harry never liked her though she helps him all the time and is sometimes accused as being his hotie

Once again. THEY ARE FRIENDS THAT HAVE NO ROMANTIC INTREST IN EACH OTHER!

10. she acts like lily defending others like snape and nevielle and harry is like james both like identical and so on...

Harry doesn't act like James did when he was his age so why would Hermione act like lily even if she was her daughter? Its not like they were raised by them or anything. Besides,both Lily and hermione are nice people.

In conclusion Harry+Hermione=Not brother and sister.

[Discordia]

Actually i's more like Ron and Hermione that acts like Lily and James. It's usually been Ron that Hermione's been disgusted with when he's acting like a fool at times. I only believe in this theory by about a half. It very convincing but the thing that gets me is the yime around when Harry was delivered to the Dursleys bc there was not even the slightest hint or reference to a sibling. IT just seems wierd that sequnece of events around the time the Potters were murdered to the time he was delivered to the Dursleys has no hint or clue of there being a lost sibling. Also when the Potters were being murdered than where was Hermone? Those are my only real qualms about it. I don't think George Lucas would sue. There'd be no point. It would be absurd. Why? Because writing is a melting pot of ideas. Other writers have used the same similar brother and sister themes or lost sibling themes. Rowling doing it wouldn't be anything knew. Star Wars was done what? 30 something years ago. If people honestly think that Rowling is the only person who'd do a similar theme they need to start reading other books outside of Harry Potter.

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

30 years might not seem as long ago to Rowling. She's said before that she thought making Voldemort a relative of Harry's sounded "a bit Star Wars" (interview here (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/quickquotes/articles/2000/1000-scholastic-chat.htm)), which suggests she's sensitive to the problem. And the "relative who turns to the dark side" theme is at least as traceable to other sources as the "lost sibling," if not more so.

It is something of a niggly point, though. Hermione's lack of resemblance to Lily and James, the complicated logistics and rationale that would have been involved in hiding her, and the simple importance to Rowling's themes of having a strong, prominent Muggleborn witch or wizard all argue against the theory strongly enough.

[Discordia]

Like I said I only belive in this theory by about a half. There are alot of things that don't add up. I think there's a possibility that they could be related but there are a few things that are evidence against it.

[siriusblue]

Hi,
just wanted to add a clue from Book One to support the theory.

When Harry's first described to us as a 11 year old kid,
he is said to be short for his age, which could be because he
was raised in a cupboard, or for other reasons...

Well, this is not the exact quote, but is close enough.
Now, if he and Hermione were twins, than it'd be normal
that he - as a boy - would be short and skinny for his age,
cause a lot of twins are a bit too small.
Hermione - as a girl - could have been the bigger baby,
or just well cared of in the Granger household,
or her being short isn't mentioned, because she is okay
for a girl, who could be 5' and no one cares.

Actually, this was the quote that convinced me that
Harry may have a twin.

Siriusblue

[*Maven*]

I am Auror at darkmark.com and started the sibling thread. Anyways it has developed over the last year into one **** big thread and has been summed up to this.
Thank you merlin at darkmark for compiling this.


Nevermind discordia already copied it.

[GryffindorGr]

wow. although i find this theory a bit unconvincing, you do have some good points. :)
Of course the theory works because they do have sibling/friendship towards eachother. Hermione acts like a sister to him in which she is concern about him, like she is too with Ron. Although Ron having a different personality, would recieve a different response.

but she's still muggle born, so she may be lily's child, yet, i think there is another child connected to Harry. maybe it's not Hermione. I think it's someone else but that's just another speculation.

[Discordia]

I am Auror at darkmark.com and started the sibling thread. Anyways it has developed over the last year into one **** big thread and has been summed up to this.

Yeah, I know! It's over a 100 pages long now!

[Zachary1993]

Ok, this is a discussion that my roommate and I had today it is a bit out there, but just think about it. Harry and Hermione are brother and sister. Ok here are the thoughts we had on the subject.

1- Hermione is ten months older then Harry, which makes it possible.
2- Hermione was put up for adoption for one of many reasons:
a- There was a prophecy saying that the Potter's first born would be in great danger from Voldy. Hermione was given up to muggles to protect her from him. Unlucky they miss understood the prophecy, they meant first born son not first born child.
b- Lily was kidnapped by Voldy while she was pregnant with Hermione. Gave birth to her while under his control. Snape was order to kill Hermione, but he could not bring himself to kill her and instead drop Hermione off at a muggle orphanage.
Hermonie is born on September 1 Harry was born on July 31 and they are both 11 in their first year so Harry is two acutally more like one month older that Hermonie.

[Zachary1993]

Hi,
just wanted to add a clue from Book One to support the theory.

When Harry's first described to us as a 11 year old kid,
he is said to be short for his age, which could be because he
was raised in a cupboard, or for other reasons...

Well, this is not the exact quote, but is close enough.
Now, if he and Hermione were twins, than it'd be normal
that he - as a boy - would be short and skinny for his age,
cause a lot of twins are a bit too small.
Hermione - as a girl - could have been the bigger baby,
or just well cared of in the Granger household,
or her being short isn't mentioned, because she is okay
for a girl, who could be 5' and no one cares.

Actually, this was the quote that convinced me that
Harry may have a twin.

Siriusblue
Hermonie is not Harry's twin they were born on different days. It would be awkward if they were twins and fell in love like in Star Wars and found out they were brother and sister.

[siriusblue]

Believing everything JKR Rowling said won't get us close
to guess possible storylines.
Sept. 19 - see, I know the date, can be
the date of Hermione's adoption, a cover,
anything.
I'd also say that it's Hermione's birthday
if I don't want to write about them
being siblings till Book 7.
She shouldn't and doesn't give away important stuff.
I'd pretty much surprised if in the end at least
a twin who isn't Hermione (but more likely she herself) wouldn't turn up.

Siriusblue

[jenidralph]

bunn

that's what I meant by the 4.somethingsomethingsomething. And yes, 7 weeks between birth and pregnancy is definately doable so noone can debunk the theory simply based on that.

dtpoet

I completely agree. I have a very close friend who has two sons who are 10 months and a few days apart.

[Discordia]

I completely agree. I have a very close friend who has two sons who are 10 months and a few days apart.

I agree. I had a friedn whose brother was a little more than 9 months older than she was. Harry and Hermione don't neccessarily have to have been born in the same year. But than that wouldn't make sense........or would it?