Movies - Minerva McGonagall

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	Movies - Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall (born October 4, c. 1925) is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. At the beginning of the stories she is deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, head of Gryffindor House, and Transfiguration teacher, which she began teaching in December of 1956. McGonagall considers Transfiguration to be the most complex and difficult branch of magic.

McGonagall has black hair, typically drawn into a tight bun. She wears emerald green robes, and always a very prim expression. She is, according to Rowling, a "sprightly" 70 years old. She wears square glasses which match the markings around the eyes of her tabby cat form (McGonagall is an Animagus - a witch or wizard who is able to transform into an amimal at will - the first one to be introduced in the series). She also has a fondness for tartan patterns, apparently derived from a Scottish heritage; even her dressing gown and biscuit tin have tartan patterns. Stern, snappy, and generally reserved, Professor McGonagall has nonetheless been shown to have in mind the best interests of the students at Hogwarts, her wards in Gryffindor, and Harry himself. McGonagall was also been one of Albus Dumbledore's staunchest supporters and is still a member of the Order of the Phoenix.

Her given name comes from Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom (a name that suits Professor McGonagall very well). Her surname comes from that of a 19th century Dundee eccentric, William Topaz McGonagall. He is often regarded as the worst poet in the history of the English language.

McGonagall is played by Maggie Smith in the Harry Potter film adaptations.

Role in the Stories

Readers first encounter Minerva McGonagall in the opening chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, when she meets Albus Dumbledore at Number 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey (the home of Harry Potter's aunt and uncle). It is immediately demonstrated that she is an Animagus (a witch or wizard who has the ability to turn into an animal without the aid of a wand), as she has waited on a brick wall all day in the form of a tabby cat. In this chapter, Professor McGonagall's personality is summarised: her caring side (she is worried when Dumbledore reveals he plans to leave Harry Potter, fresh from Lord Voldemort's devastating attack, with the Dursley family, his only living relatives); her snappy, brusque side (she criticises a number of people, including Hagrid); and ultimately, her intelligence (to become an Animagus is very difficult, and can sometimes take years to master the magic). McGonagall is the member of staff who runs the Sorting Ceremony at Hogwarts. She demands complete respect from all of her students.

McGonagall is very keen on Quidditch, and, as Head of Gryffindor House, she takes an interest in the house Quidditch team's progress. In the first book, after seeing Harry fly masterfully his very first time on a broom, she recommends him to fill the position of Seeker, even though as a first year student he would not normally be allowed to play. McGonagall, though a strict disciplinarian, often assists Harry indirectly with activities that are not strictly within the rules of Hogwarts. Aside from her stern front, McGonagall has been known to display a range of emotions when either unaware of observation or overcome by feeling.

She has often hinted at certain things for Harry's benefit, such as her warning in his fifth year that the Ministry of Magic was monitoring communication in and out of Hogwarts. She was also at this time the member of the Hogwarts staff who most obviously disliked Dolores Umbridge, yet was not afraid of her. All of Umbridge's attempts to interfere with McGonagall's business, whether career counseling or regular classes, would be promptly dismissed with a stern and usually sarcastic remark. During Umbridge's tenure as Headmistress, Professor McGonagall observed Peeves the Poltergeist attempting to loosen a chandelier, and was overheard to mutter "It unscrews the other way". She also lent him her walking stick, which he used (along with a sock full of chalk) to beat Umbridge as she left Hogwarts.

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