The reason Emma Watson only hugs Daniel Radcliffe

Harry Potter Trilogy 

In the Harry Potter series, many emotional moments between the three main characters have left a lasting impact on fans. One of the most special scenes is when Hermione Granger hugs Harry Potter after being freed from being petrified in The Chamber of Secrets.

However, what many people don’t know is that the scene was originally planned differently but had to be changed due to Emma Watson's shyness, who played Hermione.

According to the original script, Hermione was supposed to hug both Harry and Ron to express her relief after being saved. However, when the time came to film, Emma Watson, still quite young at the time, felt incredibly embarrassed at the idea of hugging her two co-stars, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry) and Rupert Grint (Ron), in front of the cameras and a large crew. Her discomfort led to a significant change in the scene.

Chris Columbus, the director behind the success of the first two Harry Potter films, decided to adjust the script to accommodate Emma's feelings. Instead of hugging both boys, the scene was altered so that Hermione only hugged Harry and shook Ron’s hand. This change not only made Emma more comfortable but also created a cinematic moment that many people appreciated.

Columbus shared more about the process: "I asked Emma to hug Daniel, and she said, ‘Oh no, no way.’ It was the scene she was most nervous about.

She was like, ‘I don’t want to hug him, I don’t want to, I don’t want to.’ So I told her, ‘You’ve just been petrified, and Harry is one of your best friends, if not the best friend, so you would hug him.’ I also added, ‘But don’t worry, you don’t have to hug Ron because your relationship with him is a bit more complicated.’

Although it was a small change, the scene where Hermione hugs Harry and only shakes Ron’s hand turned out to be very successful. It unintentionally reflected the dynamics between the characters in the story. While Hermione could easily hug Harry as a close friend, there was always a bit of tension and awkwardness between her and Ron, hinting at their special relationship.

Instead of hugging both of them, Emma Watson just hugged Daniel Radcliffe.

In fact, the scene didn’t just involve a change in content but also a bit of "movie magic" in editing. Since Emma was so shy, when she hugged Daniel, she only did it briefly before pulling away. To extend the moment on screen, the director had to "freeze" the image for a second or two, making it appear longer in the final cut and delivering a more heartfelt moment for the audience.

This behind-the-scenes story about Emma Watson’s shyness and the minor adjustments made to the scene contributed to one of the most memorable moments in the Harry Potter series. The complex relationships between Hermione, Harry, and Ron were not only conveyed through their acting but also through the subtle changes made by the director, allowing the audience to feel the true emotions between the characters.

Through this story, fans gain a deeper understanding of the filmmaking process and the challenges young actors like Emma Watson faced. The hug scene in The Chamber of Secrets is not just a beautiful cinematic moment but also a testament to the evolving emotions and relationships between the main characters throughout the series.