“We Teachers Are Rather Good at Magic, You Know.”

Minerva – The Roman counterpart to the Greek goddess named Athena. Both women in their respective mythologies represent war, handicraft and practical reason or wisdom.

McGonagall, Professor – The name is Scottish (also written as McGonigle or McGonegal) and is from the Celtic name “Conegal,” which means “the bravest.” The “Mc” in McGonagall means “son of.” The bravery fits well with her first name, Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and war.

I LOVE McGonagall. Clearly, I love a lot of Harry Potter characters, but there’s something awesome about McGonagall, obviously since I’m writing about her. She’s the epitome of a Gryffindor. She’s fiercely brave, loyal to her death. Plus, if you’re awesome and have a Pottermore, you know her background story, which makes you love her so much more.

Also, Maggie Smith was the perfect actress for her. I love the sarcasm. It’s so great. I think my favorite part is when she stands up to Umbridge time and time again. So good.

[Random side thought/note: I watched part of the first season of Downton Abbey and Maggie Smith is once again a stern yet gentle sort of grandmother figure. It’s her destiny.]

Minerva, clearly it’s perfect. The goddess of wisdom? McGonagall is practically the female version of Dumbledore, who is all knowing. She’s also all about practicality. The war part of McGonagall doesn’t really come out until the seventh book, but when it comes out it’s awesome. She’s a BAMF. As soon as Harry says why they are there, McGonagall begins organizing battle techniques. I’m a little bit obsessed with Greek mythology as well, and Athena is more the goddess of strategic war rather than the act itself. This is obvious. Whenever something is going to go down, McGonagall’s there with a plan. Also, backto the wisdom, in Sorcerer’s Stone, her way of defending the stone is a chess game. Does it get any nerdier and logical than chess? Her last name is pretty awesome too with the whole “Conegal” meaning bravest. Obviously J.K. puts so much thought into these characters. It just makes me love and respect her even more.

I don’t know about you, but McGonagall reminds me of a grandmother. I think part of it’s because she’s with Dumbledore when they leave Harry on the Dursleys’ doorstep. She’s just got that air about her and I love it. I think if Dumbledore weren’t gay, he and McGonagall would be Harry’s replacement grandparents. Anyway, McGonagall doesn’t show emotion much, but when she does it’s amazing. One of the most touching scenes is when Harry is “dead” and McGonagall sees him:

““NO!” The scream was terrible because he had never expected or dreamed that Professor McGonagall could make such a sound. He heard another woman laughing nearby, and knew that Bellatrix glorified in McGonagall’s despair. He squinted again for a single second and saw the open doorway filling with people, as the survivors of the battle came out onto the front steps to face their vanquishers and see the truth of Harry’s death for themselves.”

Such a sad moment. And when Harry tells her about Dumbledore’s death. I’m not even sure why McGonagall is so amazing to me, but I just love her. I can’t not love her. I also love that she’s an Animagus. Also, I love her soft spot for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and Gryffindors in general, especially the trio.

More on Minerva McGonagall here!

Quotes from McGonagall: (you can read more here or here!)

‘I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can’t bend the first-year rule. Heaven knows, we need a better team than last year. Flattened in that last match by Slytherin, I couldn’t look Severus Snape in the face for weeks…’

“Ah, of course. There is no need to tell me any more, Ms. Granger. Which one of you will be dying this year?”

“I wonder,” said Professor McGonagall in cold fury, turning on Professor Umbridge, “how you can expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking.”

“I should have made my meaning plainer,” said Professor McGonagall, turning at last to look at Umbridge directly in the eyes. “He has achieved high marks in all Defense Against the Dark Arts tests set by a competent teacher.”

“Well, usually when a person shakes their head,” said McGonagall coldly, “they mean ‘no.’ So unless Miss Edgecombe is using a form of sign language as yet unknown to humans –”

We teachers are rather good at magic, you know.”

Do what you have to do. I’ll secure the castle.

Flitwick: You do realize we can’t keep out You-Know-Who indefinitely. McGonagall: That doesn’t mean we can’t delay him. And his name is Voldemort, so you might as well use it, he’s going to try and kill you either way.

I’ve always wanted to use that spell.

The house of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizarding world for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you, in one night, besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons!

McGonagall: To dance! It’s tradition that the three champions-well in this case four- are the first to dance. Surely I told you? Harry: No.  McGonagall: Oh, well, now you know.

Potter, take Weasley with you. He looks far too happy over there.

Umbridge: Pardon me, Professor, but what exactly are you insinuating? McGonagall: I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices. Umbridge: So silly of me, but it sounds as if you’re questioning my authority in my own classroom, Minerva. McGonagall: Not at all, Dolores, merely your medieval methods. Umbridge: I am sorry, dear, but to question my practices is to question the Ministry, and by extension, the Minister himself. I am a tolerant woman, but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty. McGonagall: Disloyalty? Umbridge: Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared.