“Yer A Wizard, Harry.”

Rubeus – “Rubeus” means “red.” “Ruber” is also Latin for “red,” and can mean “ruddy” – a perfect representation of our favorite gamekeeper.

Hagrid – J.K. Rowling said: “Hagrid is also another old English word meaning if you were Hagrid, it’s a dialect word meaning you’d had a bad night. Hagrid’s a big drinker. He has a lot of bad nights.” Grid was a Norse giantess known for having a terrible temper. “Ha” is a variant of the Old West Norse name element “half.” So, “Ha-Grid” may just mean “Half-Grid” or more notably “Half-Giant.” ” Haggard” can also mean “appearing worn and exhausted, gaunt; wild or distraught in appearance; a disheveled individual.” From the Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, the Old English term “hag-rid” means “indigestion” (not surprising considering all the weird things Hagrid eats). Found in the exact same paragraph as “Dumbledore.” Coincidence?

I’m pretty sure I say this every post, but I love Hagrid. He really does make Hogwarts home. I love how someone who seems so scary at first glance is really a sweet, caring, loyal, and emotional man. Hagrid is just wonderful. He’s definitely one of my favorite characters. I hated the part in Order of the Phoenix when he’s away with Madame Olympe Maxime trying to make peace with the giants. But Rowling made up for it with his awesome story. I remember reading that and being completely transported to be there with them and it’s just one of those things that I love about the way that J.K. Rowling writes.

As always, the name holds significance. Rubeus meaning red and ruddy is perfect for Hagrid, as it says above. I believe that J.K. often describes him as being ruddy. Hagrid is yet again perfect, whether referencing the quote or the half-giant or haggard or hag-rid. I think it’s rather interesting that Rowling made Hagrid a drinker. I know he had to have some fault, but wouldn’t it be enough that he was blamed for opening the Chamber of Secrets? He had a terrible childhood though, so I guess that’s probably why. His mother left when he was young, his father died when he was at school, he had few friends, he got blamed for opening the Chamber of Secrets, saved by Dumbledore who allowed him to stay on the grounds. Hagrid also was a very close friend of the Potters and so when they were murdered it was very hard on him. Hagrid also has the tendency to blame himself. I think part of the reason Hagrid has such a fascination with animals is that they’ve never let him down and they’ve always been there for him. I think it’s also pretty awesome that hag-rid and Dumbledore (an old English word for bumblebee) are in the same paragraph. It could be where Jo found their names, or it could merely be a coincidence. Or even cooler would be if she found one of them, then the other later and then came across them in Thomas Hardy’s book.

Though this picture isn’t really something that happened in the series, it’s so true. Hagrid revealed the truth about Harry’s life to us all. Hagrid bought Harry his first real birthday present. Hagrid did so much for Harry, year after year. Though Ron was Harry’s best friend, Ron did leave. Hagrid never did. He never could have. (I’m not hating on Ron, I’m just saying, think about it.) Hermione wasn’t friends with Harry at first, though she didn’t seem to loathe him like she loathed Ron. Hagrid is so important to Harry because Hagrid represents Hogwarts to him somehow. Harry knows that Hagrid cares, and vice versa. Hagrid is just so wonderfully wonderful. He really truly does make Hogwarts home.

One of my favorite Hagrid moments is when the trio goes up to him after finding out he’s the new Care of Magical Creatures professor. He’s so shy about it! It’s adorable. I also love and yet hate the part when Harry goes into the Forbidden Forest in the Deathly Hallows. Hagrid is scared for Harry and I hate that Voldemort makes him carry Harry, but no one else would have been right. It was so emotional. I love Hagrid. He’s a big teddy bear.

More on Hagrid here!

Some quotes from Hagrid:

No, sir – house was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin’ around. He fell asleep as we was flyin’ over Bristol.

“Harry — yer a wizard.”

Rubeus Hagrid: “This boy’s had his name down ever since he was born. He’ll be goin’ to the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world and he’ll be under the greatest headmaster that Hogwarts has ever seen; Albus Dumbledore. Vernon Dursley: “I will not pay to have some crackpot old fool teach him magic tricks! Rubeus Hagrid: “Never… insult… Albus Dumbledore… in front of me!
Great man, Dumbledore. ‘S long as we’ve got him, I’m not too worried.
Listen to me, all three of ya: Yer meddlin’ in things that aught not to be meddled in; it’s too dangerous. What that dog is guarding is strictly between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel.
“If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they’d have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That’d lead ’em right! That’s all I’m sayin’.”
When I firs’ met you, you reminded me o’ me a bit: Mum an’ Dad gone, and you was feelin’ like yeh wouldn’t fit in at Hogwarts, remember? Not sure yeh were really up to it…an’ now look at yeh!.
My dad was broken-hearted when she wen’. Tiny little bloke, my dad was. By the time I was six I could lift him up an’ put him on top o’ the dresser if he annoyed me. Used ter make him laugh…
Dumbledore sent me to parley with the giants…I tried to convince them to join the cause. But I wasn’t the only one that was trying to win them over.
Harry?! No! What are you doin’ here?!

“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.