Harry Potter co-stars Emma Watson and Tom Felton have discussed their relationship during the reunion special. Felton and Watson, who played Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger respectively in the franchise, talked about the platonic love they have for each other after meeting on set.
In the past, fans have speculated that the co-stars dated, but they said they’ve never been romantic. During the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts reunion special, Watson reminisced on the moment she developed feelings for her Harry Potter co-star. It happened during a tutoring session on the set of the early movies when the child actors were asked to draw what they thought God looked like. “Tom had drawn a girl with a backward cap on a skateboard. And, I just don’t know how to say it, I just fell in love with him,” Watson said.She also said she looked forward to days when they were working together.”I used to come in every day and look for his number on the call sheet, it was number seven,” she said. “And if his number was on the call sheet, it was an extra exciting day.”
Watson explained that Felton was someone she could be “more vulnerable with” on set. Watson’s love for Felton wasn’t totally one-sided; he also felt an immediate “kinship” with her. “Emma and I have always loved each other, really,” he said. “I think I was in the hair-and-makeup chair, and someone said something along the lines of, ‘Yeah, she had a crush on you.’”
But Watson knew that since Felton was three years older than her, he thought of her more like a little sister. “I became very protective over her,” Felton added. “Yeah, I’ve always had a soft spot for her, and that continues to the day.”
Despite having a long and loving friendship, the actors said they’ve never been romantically involved. Reports about the pair dating have circulated for years, perhaps fueled by Watson’s candidness about her former crush and their continued close friendship. Tom has previously shared several moments with Emma, especially one video when they went skateboarding together.
Ahead of the opening of the Harry Potter flagship store in New York, Felton told Entertainment Tonight in 2021, “We are something, if that makes any sense. We’ve been very close for a long time. I adore her.” But he also added, “As far as the romantic side of it, I think that’s a Slytherin/Gryffindor thing rather than a Tom and Emma thing.”
Watson further clarified their relationship status during the Return to Hogwarts special. “Nothing has ever ever ever ever happened romantically with us,” she said. “We just love each other. That’s all I can say about that.”
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts premiered on 1 January 2022 and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video India.