It is the moment every Harry Potter fan remembers: the satisfying “smack” heard ’round the Wizarding World when Hermione Granger finally stood up to Draco Malfoy.
Decades after the release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, we are finally getting a behind-the-scenes look at the punch that defined a generation—and it turns out, it wasn’t all Emma Watson!
Flick Miles, who served as Watson’s body double for the first three films, recently sat down with the Scottish Daily Express to reveal the hilarious truth about filming the iconic confrontation.
While Hermione looked like a pro on screen, Miles admits her own attempt at the stunt was a little less than magical.
“I have never thrown a punch before in my life,” Miles joked, recalling the moment the crew told her to “just go for it.”
Despite the high stakes of the scene, Miles revealed that the “violence” was all movie magic. No real contact was ever made with Tom Felton’s face, though he was apparently a “great sport” about the whole ordeal.
“Our hands did not connect with his face,” Miles shared. “It was more like a pass to him and he did the reaction.”
As for why Miles’ version didn’t make the final edit? The former double is the first to poke fun at her lack of boxing skills.
“It was probably cut because my punch was really rubbish and so not convincing,” she laughed. “I am a really non-athletic person.”
Even though her swing didn’t make the theatrical cut, Miles remembers the day fondly. She noted that Felton, who played the sneering Malfoy, couldn’t be more different from his villainous character in real life.
“Malfoy is a great character, and completely different to what Tom is like in real life,” she said, calling the actor a “lovely person.” In fact, she thinks Felton was “slightly glad the character got put in his place a little bit too.”
The scene remains a fan favorite because it marked a major turning point for Hermione, shifting her from the rule-following “brightest witch of her age” to a fierce protector of her friends.
“It is such a great scene, isn’t it,” Miles added, reflecting on the empowerment of Hermione finally standing up for herself.
Beyond the punch, Miles described the “exciting” experience of handling legendary props like Hermione’s wand and the Time-Turner.
Since her days at Hogwarts, Emma Watson, now , has traded her robes for ballgowns and period costumes, starring in blockbusters like Beauty and the Beast and Little Women.
But for fans who are still waiting for their Hogwarts letter, these bits of behind-the-scenes magic prove that the bond between the cast (and their doubles!) is just as enchanting as the films themselves.
With the Wizarding World continuing to expand through the Fantastic Beasts series, it’s clear that the love for the original trio—and their most rebellious moments—isn’t going anywhere.
Accio, nostalgia!
Unexpected Team-Up: Prince William and Emma Watson Unite for Change
Prince William had plenty to celebrate this weekend, but his latest public appearance quickly turned heads for a very different reason. After marking his 44th birthday and Father's Day with his family, the future king returned to royal duties—and made a surprisingly personal confession about the emotional toll of climate change.
William joined Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch at a United for Wildlife forum in London, an initiative he launched with the Royal Foundation in 2013. The organization works around the world to combat wildlife trafficking, environmental crime, and the destruction of endangered species.
But it was William's candid admission about his own fears that stole the spotlight.
The Prince of Wales revealed that climate change has caused him "sleepless nights," admitting he has struggled with anxiety about what the future could look like. Yet instead of allowing those fears to overwhelm him, William said seeing real progress through conservation efforts has helped keep his environmental anxiety under control.
He also delivered a powerful message to business leaders, urging them to become the kind of leaders they admired when they were children. With technology and innovation transforming the world at an incredible pace, William challenged CEOs to use their influence to create meaningful change.
The event launched London Climate Action Week, with more royal appearances expected, including the Earthshot Prize assembly.
Emma Watson also delivered a surprising revelation of her own. The Harry Potter star highlighted the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, pointing out that it produces more emissions than aviation and ranks behind only oil among major polluting industries.
Watson, who is also pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Oxford, shared a hilarious story about mistakenly believing paparazzi were following her. After spotting photographers with telephoto lenses, she arranged a distraction and escaped through another exit. The twist? They weren't photographing her at all. They were waiting to capture a red kite.
Meanwhile, Benedict Cumberbatch praised William as "a great guy" and urged businesses and individuals to recognize that they can still make a difference, even when global environmental challenges appear overwhelming.
With William, Watson, and Cumberbatch joining forces on the issue, the London forum delivered a clear message: the fight against environmental destruction is becoming impossible for the world's biggest names to ignore.
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