During the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, not everything went as planned for Emma Watson. The young actress changed a crucial scene.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second film in the popular fantasy series. But did you know that Hermione actress Emma Watson was responsible for changing an important scene in it?
In fact, there is a moment at the end of Harry Potter 2 that only exists as we know it today because the then 12-year-old actress found something in the script too embarrassing. (Warning, Harry Potter spoilers follow.)
Harry Potter 2: Why doesn’t Hermione hug Ron at the end?
Every fan knows the scene: At the end of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Hermione (Emma Watson), cured of her petrification, enters the Great Hall at Hogwarts and is reunited with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Ron (Rupert Grint). Harry is embraced by her, but Ron only shakes her hand.
Are we dealing with an early form of social distancing here? No, not quite. The explanation that the moment is foreshadowing what is to come (Ron and Hermione end up together) is a nice touch, but it’s not the real reason why the reunion was so formal. In this case, the reality of fiction seems to have unintentionally played into the hands of the filmmakers.
Emma Watson and the awkwardness of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The real reason for this Harry Potter 2 scene lies more in the embarrassment of the then 12-year-old actress. In a BBC interview in 2002, Emma Watson explained:
At the time, I said [to director Chris Columbus], ‘You can’t be serious! You want me to run through the Great Hall and throw my arms around Harry?’ Chris said, ‘Yes.’ And I said, ‘No way, that’s so embarrassing! In front of 300 actors in the Great Hall!’ So we made a deal: no slow motion and no schmaltzy music.
The script for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets stated that Hermione should hug both boys, but Chris Columbus agreed to Emma Watson’s change of just hugging Harry and shaking Ron’s hand.
Emma Watson later revealed that she always let go of Daniel Radcliffe too quickly during the filming of the scene, which is why the shot had to be frozen to make the moment last longer. Although this is no longer noticeable in the finished film, it is striking how quickly the first cut is made after the children make physical contact. Watch the scene again here:
In a way, we could argue that Emma Watson’s change makes Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets more authentic, because as she herself was a child of Hermione Granger’s age, it’s not unlikely that the sorceress would have had similar feelings.
Podcast: What can we expect from the Harry Potter series?
The US broadcaster HBO is adapting the Harry Potter books for the screen once again, this time as a series following the popular fantasy film franchise. We discuss the launch (expected in 2025/27) and the stars already confirmed for the new cast.
What changes will the Harry Potter series make compared to the novels and films? And can we look forward to the series while still acknowledging the debate surrounding J.K. Rowling’s transphobic statements? We discuss this and more in the podcast.
