Harry Potter: Heartbreaking fan theory reveals sad twist for Hermione

The bookworm was played by Emma Watson in the movies, after becoming a fan favourite in JK Rowling’s iconic books.

Her adventures with Harry and Ron, and her incredible intelligence, made her one of the whole series’ most endearing regulars.

Writing on Reddit, user sidewinderucf wondered if there was a reason why we rarely saw her in her home environment outside of Hogwarts term time.

They pointed to a comment on another thread about how “in last three Harry Potter books, Hermione spends virtually all of her time out of school with Harry and Ron, spending her entire summer either at Grimmauld Place or the Burrow”.

They added: “It seems weird that she wouldn’t spend any of that time with her parents.

“My theory is that Hermione saw the writing on the wall and decided to take action.

“She erased her parents’ memories of her as soon as she left Hogwarts after the Triwizard Tournament, and was homeless for her last three years at Hogwarts.

“She knew she had places to stay, with the Weasleys, for example, but she kept it a secret in order to keep them as anonymous as possible, so that when the moment of truth came and she actually went to war against Voldemort with Harry, they would be as safe as possible.”

The theory has been 86% upvoted as fans praise the idea, although one person pointed out: “Wouldn’t the Ministry of Magic known she used a spell outside of Hogwarts, under the age of 17, and done something about it?”

Still, someone else responded: “If anyone could find [a way around it], it would be Hermoine.”

The Harry Potter universe continues to enchant people all over the world, and lives on thanks to the Cursed Child theatrical production and the Fantastic Beasts movies.

The second of the latter, subtitled The Crimes of Grindelwald, is in cinemas next month.

Fans will see Albus Dumbledore as a younger man, played here by Jude Law.

They will also get to meet Nagini before she became Lord Voldemort’s serpent and Horcrux – in cursed human form courtesy of actor Claudia Kim.

The twist hasn’t been a resounding success so far, however, with some calling Kim’s casting racially insensitive.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is out on November 16.