Hermione p.o.v.
Reflecting back on my life, I have been very fortunate to have such a multitude of strong women to look up to and learn some important lessons from each.
My mother being one of the most important ones. She showed and taught me kindness, strength, and love. I learned all the vital early lessons from her on how to conduct myself in various situations, how to care about my education but also how to love my close ones. I wouldn't be half the person I am today if it was not for her influence in my life.
Molly Weasley has to be one of the most loving woman I have ever met. From the first meeting, she treated me like I was one of her own and she just brought me right into her brood. Receiving my first homemade Weasley sweater has to be one of the fondest memories I have and those sweaters are the item I look forward to the most on each Christmas Day. She showed me the importance of family and how no matter how dark the times get that you'll always have your family to lean back on. Molly Weasley is one of the reasons as to why so many of us were able to recover from the war and start to move on with our lives. Whether she was making us one of her infamous dinners or just being on the receiving end of her bear hugs, you would feel a tiny piece of your soul gluing back together. I owe Molly Weasley an eternity of gratitude for everything she has done for me.
Ginny Weasley is one of my best friends and has been through so much with me. From the many adventures we went on with the boys to just having girl talk, she has always had my back. Having two male best friends meant that sometimes I'd just need an escape from all the testosterone, and she was my escape. Going to Hogsmeade to shop, and drink butter beer, and complain about boys. But then the war came, and hearing but also getting to witness how she handled herself showed how much she was like her mother. She was the epitome of strength. Enduring the torture and still finding the strength and courage to restart Dumbledores army and keeping everyone safe. I don't think I would've been able to stay as level headed as she did. She is a true Gryffindor in and out.
Nymphadora Tonks was one of the most iconic, sweetest, and funniest friends I ever had. She taught me to love myself for who I am and not to change myself to maintain beauty standards. From the hysterical dinners at Grimmauld Place to getting to gossip with her and Ginny. She showed me if you had a dream that you can accomplish it no matter the obstacles or if no one believed in you. She taught me self love, strength, and bravery. There will never be another Tonks.
Minerva McGonagall was my first introduction to the wizarding world. She encouraged my love for learning and was the one I leaned onto for comfort when I got homesick. Students would call me her mini me to upset me, but there would be no greater honor to be like Minerva. Meeting her weekly for tea and to discuss transfiguration became a highlight of my week and helped my destress. Minerva McGonagall is a true leader. She carries herself with strength, wisdom, and bravery. The heroics she showed during the war just showed how much she cared for her students and for Hogwarts. She is one of the strongest women I know and I respect and love her so much.
When Rose gets older, I hope she has as many strong women to look up to as I did because I was very lucky to have these women shape me into the person I am today.