Who Is Hermione’s Boyfriend? Ron Weasley, Viktor Krum, and Canon Explained

You clicked for a clean answer, not a rabbit hole. Here it is: Ron Weasley is Hermione Granger’s canon boyfriend-boyfriend in the later books, then husband in the epilogue of Deathly Hallows. If you need it for a quiz, say “Ron Weasley.” If someone pushes for “early romantic interest,” that’s Viktor Krum in Goblet of Fire. That’s the shape of it.

Hermione's boyfriend in canon? Ron Weasley. In The Deathly Hallows epilogue (“Nineteen Years Later,” 2007), Hermione and Ron are married with children. Their first kiss is in Deathly Hallows during the Battle of Hogwarts (the Chamber of Secrets scene), cementing the relationship the story has been building since the early books. Films echo this arc, though they shift timing and emphasis a bit for screen drama.

• TL;DR: The canonical boyfriend (and later husband) is Ron Weasley.
• Before that, Viktor Krum takes Hermione to the Yule Ball (Goblet of Fire) and is a genuine romantic interest.
• Cormac McLaggen asks her to Slughorn’s party (Half-Blood Prince), but it’s not a serious romance.
• J.K. Rowling confirmed the endgame pairing is Ron and Hermione (Deathly Hallows epilogue, 2007). She mused in 2014 about alternative pairings, but canon stays the same.
• If a question is vague and you need one name, say “Ron Weasley.”

The Canon Answer (and the Sources You Can Point To)

When people ask “Who is Hermione’s boyfriend?” they usually want the most accurate, widely accepted answer from the books. That’s Ron Weasley. The relationship builds across the series and becomes explicit by the end.

Key moments in the books make the case clear:

• Goblet of Fire (2000): The Yule Ball. Hermione goes with Viktor Krum, which sparks Ron’s jealousy. It’s the first loud signal that Ron sees her as more than a friend, even if he’s not ready to say it.
• Order of the Phoenix (2003): The bickering continues, with moments of protectiveness and quiet loyalty that read differently once you know where it’s going.
• Half-Blood Prince (2005): Hormones, jealousy, and misfires. Ron dates Lavender Brown; Hermione goes to Slughorn’s party with Cormac McLaggen-part revenge, part tactic. Underneath, their feelings are obvious to everyone but them.
• Deathly Hallows (2007): The kiss in the Chamber of Secrets after Ron shows he cares about house-elf rights (a big moment for Hermione). Their relationship is visible and settled by the Battle of Hogwarts. Epilogue: they’re married with kids (Rose and Hugo).

If you need to cite, use primary sources by title and year:

• J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000) - Yule Ball, Chapter 23.
• J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005) - Slughorn’s Christmas party, Chapters 15-16; Ron and Lavender arc, mid-book.
• J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007) - Chamber of Secrets kiss, late chapters; “Nineteen Years Later” epilogue.
• J.K. Rowling and Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016) - confirms endgame Ron/Hermione in the main timeline.

About that 2014 comment: In a Wonderland magazine conversation with Emma Watson, Rowling floated the idea that Hermione and Harry might have worked as a couple. It was a thought experiment, not a retcon. The published canon didn’t change-Ron/Hermione stands.

Films track the same destination but tinker with path and emphasis. For instance, the films sometimes heighten Ron’s insecurity or Harry/Hermione moments for tension, but they still land on the Ron/Hermione pairing, including the big kiss during the Battle of Hogwarts in Deathly Hallows - Part 2.

So if you’re asked in a pub quiz, a classroom, or a group chat: the right, canonical boyfriend is Ron Weasley. If a question calls for “first major date,” that’s Viktor Krum. If the word is “husband,” still Ron.

The Timeline, Alternatives, and Book-vs-Film Differences

Hermione’s romantic arc isn’t complicated, but it is layered. Here’s the shape across books and films, with other names that come up and why they matter.

First, the short version: Viktor Krum is the notable early romantic interest (a respectful one, by the way). Cormac McLaggen is a brief, tactical date. Ron Weasley becomes the boyfriend and later husband. Harry is a close friend; in canon, they don’t date.

Now, those other names you hear:

• Viktor Krum: He’s not a joke crush. He treats Hermione with respect, learns her name before the world does, and invites her to the Yule Ball. They exchange letters after the Ball. It’s a sweet, short arc and a healthy early romance for Hermione.
• Cormac McLaggen: A one-off date to Slughorn’s party in Half-Blood Prince. Hermione uses it partly to get under Ron’s skin after the Lavender thing. It’s not a relationship.
• Harry Potter: No, they don’t date in canon. The series builds a deep friendship between Harry and Hermione, with strong mutual care, but it intentionally steers away from romance. If someone argues based on one film dance scene in Deathly Hallows - Part 1, remind them it’s a moment of comfort, not a relationship detour.

Book-vs-film quirks to watch for:

• Jealousy dial: Films sometimes dial Ron’s insecurity up and give more intimate Harry/Hermione beats for tension. The destination doesn’t change.
• The kiss location: The book sets the first kiss after destroying the Horcrux in the Chamber of Secrets. The film stages it differently, but still at the Battle of Hogwarts.
• Krum’s presence: The films streamline Krum’s post-Yule Ball contact. The books mention letters; films leave it implied or cut it down.

What about that 2014 discussion where Rowling said she “wrote Hermione and Ron together as a form of wish fulfillment”? She was reflecting on craft, not changing the story. In every printed or released canonical endpoint, Hermione and Ron end up together.

If you’re answering for a test, a pub quiz, or a trivia app, you’ll almost never get penalized for “Ron Weasley.” If the question asks “Who does she go to the Yule Ball with?” answer “Viktor Krum.” If it asks “boyfriend/husband in the epilogue?” it’s “Ron Weasley.”

Cheat-Sheet Answers, FAQs, and Quick Scenarios

You came for clarity, so here’s how to handle the common situations without overthinking it.

Cheat-sheet, phrased for speed:

• Who is Hermione’s boyfriend in canon? Ron Weasley.
• Who is Hermione’s husband? Ron Weasley (Deathly Hallows epilogue).
• Who does Hermione take to the Yule Ball? Viktor Krum.
• Who does Hermione go to Slughorn’s party with? Cormac McLaggen.
• Does Hermione ever date Harry? No.
• In The Cursed Child, are they together? Yes, in the restored main timeline.

Pro tips (useful for quizzes, debates, or helping a younger reader):

• Match the time frame: “Goblet of Fire” → Krum; “end of the series” → Ron; “epilogue” → Ron (husband).
• Watch the wording: “boyfriend” usually means the pre-marriage romantic partner in the later books-still Ron. “Date to the Yule Ball” is Krum.
• If a film-only fan says “but Harry and Hermione danced,” say: yes, a comfort scene, not a romance.
• If someone cites the 2014 Rowling interview, you can say: interesting thought, but canon didn’t change.

Pitfalls to avoid:

• Don’t answer “Viktor Krum” to the general boyfriend question unless the prompt is clearly about Year 4 or the Yule Ball.
• Don’t say “Harry” unless you’re talking about hypothetical pairings or fan ships.
• Don’t mix up “date” with “relationship.” Hermione had a date with Cormac; that’s not a boyfriend.

Mini-FAQ (the follow-ups people actually ask):

• Did Hermione and Krum keep in touch? Briefly, yes-letters after the Yule Ball as mentioned in Goblet of Fire. It fizzles naturally.
• Why Ron, not Harry? The books build a best-friends dynamic between Harry and Hermione and a complementary, sometimes chaotic chemistry between Ron and Hermione. The arcs resolve accordingly.
• Is The Cursed Child canon? It’s produced as the official stage sequel with Rowling’s approval. It plays with alternate timelines but ultimately confirms the Ron/Hermione pairing in the main line.
• Are there any quotes proving Ron/Hermione? Deathly Hallows has the kiss. The epilogue shows their marriage and kids. That’s as canonical as it gets.
• What about movie-only viewers? Same end pairing. Some beats change, but Ron/Hermione stands.

Next steps and quick paths depending on what you need right now:

• Pub quiz in 10 seconds: Say “Ron Weasley.” If they press for dance partners at the Ball, switch to “Viktor Krum.”
• Explaining to a child who’s mid-series: “Hermione likes Viktor in Book 4, but she ends up with Ron by the end.” That keeps spoilers light and honest.
• Settling a debate with a film-first friend: Point to Deathly Hallows - Part 2’s kiss and the epilogue; if they argue about the dance scene, clarify its purpose.
• Writing a school answer: Use the book titles and years-e.g., “In Deathly Hallows (2007), Hermione and Ron become a couple; in the epilogue, they’re married.”

If you want receipts you can quote out loud:

• “Nineteen Years Later,” Deathly Hallows (2007) - Ron and Hermione are married with Rose and Hugo.
• Deathly Hallows, late chapters - Hermione and Ron kiss in the Chamber of Secrets after destroying a Horcrux.
• Goblet of Fire, Chapter 23 - Hermione attends the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum.

A quick decision tree you can keep in your head:

• Is the question general (“Who is Hermione’s boyfriend?”) → Ron Weasley.
• Is it about Year 4 or the Yule Ball? → Viktor Krum.
• Is it the epilogue or “Who is her husband?” → Ron Weasley.
• Is it a film-only recall question about a dance? → Explain it as comfort/friendship, not romance.

If you’re revising for a test or prepping trivia, jot this on a sticky note:

• Ron Weasley = boyfriend → husband (canon endgame)
• Viktor Krum = Yule Ball date (genuine interest)
• Cormac McLaggen = Slughorn’s party (not a romance)

That’s the tidy package. Say “Ron Weasley,” and you’re right. If context narrows to “at the Yule Ball,” switch to “Viktor Krum.” If someone drags you into a ship war, you’ve got the book and film beats to back you up without breaking a sweat.