Emma Watson has spoken adoringly of her Draco Malfoy co-star in several interviews

As a teenager, there wasn’t a chance in hell you’d catch me opening up about the boy I fancy – especially not to them!

And apparently, such was the case for Harry Potter child star Emma Watson, who only recently revealed that during filming of the first few magical movies, she harboured a colossal crush on her co-star Tom Felton.

In fact, it wasn’t until the 2022 premiere of the special documentary Return to Hogwarts – released by Sky to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first film of the franchise – that saw the Hermione Grainger star spill the beans on her first love.

And even more heartwarming, was the one-off movie also saw the now 34-year-old Beauty and the Beast star reveal the exactly moment she knew she’d fallen completely and utterly head over heels for the Draco Malfoy actor.

Speaking on the film, Emma began her confession by admitting that, during a tutoring session on the first wand-flick, she found herself frantically looking out for his name on the call sheet.

“I walked into the room where we were having tutoring,” she explained. “The assignment that had been given was to draw what you thought God looked like, and Tom had drawn a girl with a backward cap on a skateboard. And I just don’t how to say it – I just fell in love with him.

Emma recently admitted she had a crush on her co-star during filming. (Brian Rasic/Getty Images)

“I used to come in every day and look for his number on the call sheet, it was number seven, and if his name was on the call sheet, it was an extra exciting day.

“He was three years above me and so for him he was like, ‘you’re like my little sister.'”

She added that nothing ‘ever, ever, ever, happened romantically,’ but they ‘just love each other’.

Unsurprisingly, Tom admitted he was aware of Emma’s crush on him – but instead of acting on it, he became incredibly ‘protective over her’ and their friendship.

The 36-year-old said: “I think I was in the hair and make-up chair, and someone said something along the lines of, ‘Yeah, she had a crush on you.’

“I became very protective over her. Yeah, I’ve always had a soft spot for her and that continues to the day.

“There’s always been something that’s like, I don’t know, a kinship.”

The duo have remained close since the franchise came to a close. (Instagram)

The pals have been at the centre of romance rumours for several years. Although there’s nothing romantic between the two, they regularly share photos together to their social media.

Emma was previously dating American businessman Leo Robinton, but the pair reportedly split up back in 2021.

Tom was in a long-term relationship with stunt assistant Jade Olivia Gordon – who played Draco Malfoy’s wife in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – before they broke up in early 2016.