Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Romilda Vane

Overview
Romilda Vane is a fellow student of Harry Potter. She is in Gryffindor house, but is two years younger than Harry – in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when Harry is in sixth year, it is mentioned that she is a fourth-year.

Half-Blood Prince
Romilda is one of a group of fourth-year girls who try to get Harry to sit in their compartment of the Hogwarts Express, instead of with Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom. Harry rather disappoints them by saying he'd rather stay where he was.

Romilda has rather set her cap for Harry, to the extent of trying to get him to take her to Professor Slughorn's Christmas party, by slipping him some love potion; Hermione has warned him, however, and he sets the love potion, concealed inside chocolate cauldrons, aside in his dorm. Ron later takes these by mistake, damaging his relationship with Lavender Brown.

When Harry publicly announces the start of his romantic attachment to Ginny by kissing her at the Gryffindor Quidditch victory party, Romilda appears to be very angry.

Strengths
Romilda is assertive and not afraid to approach Harry. She is probably the leader of her clique of fourth year girls.

Weaknesses
Romilda is self-centered, vain and a bit ruthless. Her interest in Harry is strictly about prestige and peer approval rather than any genuine feelings for him.

Analysis
Like so many characters in the Potter series. Romilda's character is echoed by her name. She is vain, trying to hook up with Harry not for anything that Harry has, but for what he can bring her: a measure of fame amongst the girls in the common room. In all of her plotting and scheming to get Harry to notice her and go out with her, notably absent is any idea of what Harry would like. The very first time we see her, we note that she is apparently quite willing to dismiss Harry's friends, in her attempt to be the force that brings Harry to their compartment.