in Harry PotterProfessor Minerva McGonagall is the Head of Gryffindor House and the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, Making her a huge part of Harry’s day-to-day life at Hogwarts. A skilled witch and Transfiguration professor, she is firm but fair with Harry and his friends when they cause mischief at school. Lady Maggie Smith was the perfect Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter Because she balances the stern and stern elements of McGonagall with the warmth and empathy that made her character so complex. She offers Harry emotional support where he would otherwise have none.
Only Smith could have delivered McGonagall’s iconic lines Which makes her one of the most quotable characters in the series. McGonagall is never afraid to tell someone what she thinks or to make sure Harry Potter Characters get what they deserve. Although Harry can’t see it, Minerva is a staunch defender of his against Dumbledore and anyone else she thinks doesn’t have his best interests at heart. McGonagall is a teacher and a motherly figure, which Harry seeks throughout the series. In the books and movies, McGonagall remains an amazing part of the magical world.
15
“Five points will be awarded to each of you for sheer dumb luck.”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
When Ron and Harry save Hermione from a cruel fate with the troll in the sorcerer’s stone, Professor McGonagall bursts into the girl’s bathroom along with Professor Snape, and Quirrell. The professors are amazed that three eleven-year-old children could hold their own against a full-grown mountain troll, and although she is impressed, McGonagall clearly knows that they are not telling the whole story. However, it’s impossible not to be impressed that the three children managed to survive the encounter, let alone take down the troll.
This is a perfect example of McGonagall embodying the traits of Gryffindor while understanding how to be an educator.
It may only be two months into their first year at Hogwarts, but clearly, She had already realized that there was more to Harry, Ron and Hermione than met the eye, Even if she doesn’t know what yet. Five points each seems like a pretty low reward for saving someone’s life, especially since she deducted five points from Hermione for going after the troll on her own. This is a perfect example of McGonagall embodying the traits of Gryffindor while understanding how to be an educator. She rewards bravery but makes sure the kids know they shouldn’t have done this.
14
“Why is it that when something happens, it’s always you three?”
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
in Harry Potter and the Play Half-Blood Prince, Harry, Ron and Hermione get involved in another dangerous situation when Katie Bell accidentally touches a cursed necklace. Katie survives, but the nature of the necklace and how it came into her possession is still unclear. While Harry was certain that Draco was the one who did it, McGonagall wasn’t so sure. When she questions them, she is excited and has a resigned curiosity about how the members of her house are always in trouble.
after all these years, McGonagall wasn’t surprised to see the trio appear during a crisis, but she couldn’t help but voice her frustration And worry. Of course, she knows that events often go Harry’s way, not the other way around, but she’s also aware that Harry goes looking for trouble. Regardless, the three of them always seem to be in the middle of things, even when they really don’t want to be. It also brings up one of Ron Weasley’s best lines, “Believe me, Professor, I’ve been asking myself the same question for six years.”
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13
“Why don’t you confirm with Mr. Finnigan? As I recall, he has a particular proclivity for pyrotechnics.”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
It’s just like McGonagall to choose her words so carefully, even in a time of crisis. When the battle of Hogwarts starts, McGonagall is right by Harry’s side and rallies the students and teachers in the fight against Voldemort. in this line, She references almost seven Seamus Finnigan movies making things explode By accident. While Fred and George are always planning their next exploding prank, Finnigan’s pyrotechnics are largely the result of him not getting his wandwork right.
This light poke from Professor McGonagall moments before the looming Battle of Hogwarts begins is just the encouragement that Seamus and Neville need from their Head of House.
She says this while telling Neville to gather all the students together, Especially those who had been part of Harry’s class since his first year at Hogwarts. This light poke from Professor McGonagall moments before the looming Battle of Hogwarts begins is just the encouragement that Seamus and Neville need from their Head of House. It also gives Seamus something heroic to do during the battle, since he passes through the battle mostly unmentioned. There were many Order of the Phoenix members who fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, and they fought bravely with the students.
12
“Perhaps it would be more useful if I transformed Mr. Potter and turned into a pocket watch?”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
For all that she may be a serious and dignified teacher, Minerva McGonagall is not afraid to be sarcastic and scold her students when they are in the wrong. This whole exchange of The Sorcerer’s Stone It begins when Ron and Harry arrive late for Transfiguration class. She doesn’t want any of their flattery and lightly threatens them to turn them into a pocket watch so they won’t be late again. This is a defining moment in Ron and Harry’s friendship, How their propensity to get into trouble starts here.
When they apologize by saying they are lost, she suggests a map instead. The fact that Harry was easily lost in the castle tied to the fact that magic was still new to him, And he doesn’t know how to navigate the moving stairs. While McGonagall was well aware of Harry’s upbringing, she wasn’t going to give him special treatment. Although she wouldn’t be allowed to use transfiguration as a punishment, Hogwarts seems like the kind of place where the threat isn’t entirely idle.
11
“Potter, take Weasley with you, he looks far too happy over there.”
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
OWLs are a significant part of The Order of the PhoenixAs the tests will determine which subjects the students can continue studying in school. In the beginning of Play Half-Blood PrinceHarry and Ron had performed poorly enough on some of their skills that they were not allowed to continue in some of their subjects. Because of this, They are not into potions and having a free time when McGonagall stumbles upon them In the hallway. She asks what they are doing, because Harry needs potions if he is to become an Auror.
When she looks up and sees Ron laughing loudly, she realizes that it is best if he goes with Harry.
The professor immediately enrolls Potter in Potions, insisting he go down to the dungeons At once so he can get back on track in his training. Although Snape would not allow Harry to continue, Slughorn would take students who received an Exceeding Expectations grade on their owls. When she looks up and sees Ron laughing loudly, she realizes that it’s best if he goes with Harry. Like Harry, Potions was one of Ron’s weakest subjects, so it was better that he was there and not enjoying himself too much.
10
“We will leave you to deal with the monster, Gilderoy. Your skills, after all, are legendary.”
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
This is one of the most satisfying lines in The Chamber of SecretsEspecially since it’s directed at the slimy Gilderoy Lockhart. throughout The Chamber of SecretsBarely competent Professor Gilderoy Lockhart boasts of his many achievements What he wrote about and led to his fame. If his constant showboating wasn’t already irritating enough, many of the teachers seem to have caught on to the fact that Lockhart is lying about it all, and McGonagall doesn’t take deception lightly.
When Ginny Weasley was taken into the Chamber of Secrets, McGonagall insults Gilderoy, calling his skills legendary, knowing very well that Lockhart is not capable of handling pixies, let alone the monster hidden in the chamber. She knows that if she immediately calls him into action for a fight, he will run away screaming, and that is what she wants. However, Lockhart still makes things difficult for the characters later in the story. What happens to Gilderoy Lockhart after The Chamber of Secrets It’s sad, but seeing McGonagall one-liner him is satisfying.
9
“His name is Voldemort, Filius. You might as well use it, he’ll try to kill you either way.”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
McGonagall says this shortly after telling Neville and Seamus to find the other students and protect the school. After seeing two teenagers willing to put their lives on the line, She will not let Professor Flitwick shy away from the coming fight. This is why McGonagall is such an enduring character. She is straightforward and to the point, even if the point is terrifying. She says this to Flitwick, encouraging him to be brave in the face of imminent danger, if in a somewhat roundabout way. They both, after all, survive the final battle.
Up until this point, she had been afraid to say Voldemort’s name, choosing instead to use ‘you-know-who’, like many in the wizarding world.
It’s also a wonderful moment of growth for McGonagall. Up until this point, she had been afraid to say Voldemort’s name, choosing instead to use ‘you-know-who’, like many in the wizarding world. However, fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself, and McGonagall went into this battle bravely. Many of the adults in Harry’s life encouraged him not to say Voldemort’s name, however Seeing Harry’s perseverance and knowing that this could be her last stand, McGonagall refuses to go down without a fight.
8
“Potter is a boy, not a piece of meat!”
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
One of the cruelest things we find ourselves in Deadly Hallows is this Dumbledore always suspected that Harry would have to die when he faced Voldemort. In a way, Dumbledore was just keeping Harry alive so he would die At the right time. This is one of the examples of the way Dumbledore fails Harry throughout the series, but also how he was determined to work at the end of Voldemort, no matter the cost. Dumbledore had to make difficult choices that often put Harry in harm’s way.
in The Goblet of FireMcGonagall is already horrified by the casual way Dumbledore, Snape and Moody all talk about Harry’s life. They decided to let him compete in the Triwizard Tournament, An event they all acknowledge is terribly dangerous, but lion-hearted McGonagall does not back down. It’s heartwarming to see her rise to fight for Harry, even though he can’t see it. McGonagall’s line echoes down the line of all the movies and is a reminder that not everyone sees Harry as a means to an end.
7
“I’ve always wanted to use that spell!”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
In what is one of McGonagall’s most heroic moments, she gets to cast a spell that brings to life all the statues and suits of armor at Hogwarts. It’s one she never has to use, which is a good thing, but the Battle of Hogwarts is a time for drastic measures. In a difficult moment, McGonagall sends them to the boundaries of the castle as the next line of defense against the Death Eaters. however, The tension is momentarily broken when she considers how much she always wanted to cast the spell.
It helps that animating the statues is a truly impressive piece of magic that helps turn the tide of the fight.
The way they film her and the soldiers’ descent is nothing short of heroic, and it’s a well-deserved moment for the woman who fought for Harry every step of the way. As she prepares to stand with the students and teachers who have come together to protect the school, McGonagall had a moment of happiness, seeing that she had the strength and skill to protect the place she cared about most. It helps that animating the statues is a truly impressive piece of magic that helps turn the tide of the fight.
6
“Welcome to Hogwarts!”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
This is McGonagall’s sweetest moment. As Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and the rest of the students climb the stairs at Hogwarts for the first time, McGonagall stands at the top. She strikes an elegant, strong, and impressive figure. After Hagrid and the ships, She is the first person at Hogwarts most of the students ever see, And the first thing she makes sure to do is to welcome them. Although Harry had been slowly introduced to the magical world up to this point, there was no turning back after that.
She may seem stern and scary, but we know from her smile at this moment that McGonagall is warm and loving. When Harry hears her welcome him and the other students to the fabled school, it’s the moment he’s been waiting for his whole life. Finally, everything fell into place and he no longer feels distant and alienated from the rest of the world. His magical life became real, and McGonagall is the person who bridges the gap between wishing for the wizarding world and being part of it.
5
“He will be famous – a legend… every child in our world will know his name!”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
McGonagall is one of the first characters to appear in the Harry Potter series as the audience sees her in cat form waiting in Privet Drive before Hagrid and Dumbledore arrive. When she and Dumbledore approach the Dursley house they are expecting Hagrid with baby Harry, She expressed her concern about leaving Harry with the Dursleys. McGonagall tells Dumbledore how they are a terrible family of muggles and will not be prepared to care for Harry as a wizarding family. She was already looking out for Harry and his best interests at a young age.
One of her arguments is how famous Harry will be in the magical realm, predicting something that becomes very true when Harry grows up.
One of her arguments is how famous Harry will be in the magical realm, predicting something that becomes very true when Harry grows up. Although he is not aware of how special he is in early childhood, the wizarding world is full of rumors and stories about Harry, which makes him famous before he even knows about the existence of magic. Although McGonagall is right about the Dursleys, Dumbledore has a good reason for leaving Harry there, How his kindness and bravery would not have been so strong if he had been raised as a celebrity.
4
“I will not have you as a babbling bumbling band of baboons!”
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
The Goblet of Fire Incorporates many fun moments in the story, as it takes place when the characters are transitioning from childhood to adolescence. There are few rites of passage as iconic as a school dance, And using the Yule Ball as a way for the characters to make mistakes and reveal their feelings is the perfect storytelling tool. In preparation for the ball, McGonagall calls all the Gryffindors together to teach them how to waltz so they will represent their school well and not embarrass their house.
Her alliteration while telling them off drives home the point and makes the quote stick out In the scene. After that, she decides to have Ron act as her dance partner to give him a hard time and prove that dancing isn’t so bad. While many of the Gryffindors are reluctant to be seen trying to dance, some of them take it in stride. McGonagall ends up having a good time at the Yule Ball herself and dancing with Dumbledore.
3
– Have a biscuit, father.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
There are few characters McGonagall hates as openly as Dolores Umbridge, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher The Order of the Phoenix. She is right to despise Umbridge, who is a terrible villain, which makes her one of the best Harry Potter Supporting characters introduced in The Order of the Phoenix. McGonagall gets into a few bars in Umbridge throughout the story, But her best moment happens when she talks to Harry in her office after Umbridge gives Harry detention for the first time.
However, she completely surprises him by offering him a biscuit, which catches Harry off-guard and allows McGonagall to reason with him.
at this point, Harry expected to be disciplined and even yelled at by McGonagall, Which usually takes rule-breaking very seriously. However, she completely surprises him by offering him a biscuit, which catches Harry off-guard and allows McGonagall to reason with him. She knows that yelling at a teacher is not right, but she also knows that Harry goes a lot throughout the year and that he is treated terribly for saying that Voldemort is back. Giving him a biscuit doesn’t change the hardships, but it does show that she’s on his side.
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2
“You see, honest as your intentions were, you were also out of bed after hours.”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Even when punishing Harry, Ron and Hermione, McGonagall makes sure her actions are fair. in The Sorcerer’s StoneThe trio is caught visiting Hagrid after hours, and Draco follows them there and reports them to get them into trouble. As Draco watched smugly, McGonagall tells them that they all have detention, and he realizes that McGonagall is referring to him, too. Terrified, Draco couldn’t believe he was going to be punished after he caught Harry, Ron and Hermione out of bed.
While the detention goes quickly, it’s a small form of justice that Draco isn’t rewarded for sneaking around and trying to undermine Harry.
McGonagall is well aware that Draco has followed them for the express purpose of getting them into trouble, and she doesn’t take kindly to this kind of misbehavior either. She calmly addresses his concerns and tells him that since he is also out after hours, he is in so much trouble. While the detention goes quickly, it’s a small form of justice that Draco isn’t rewarded for sneaking around and trying to undermine Harry. as a teacher, McGonagall can’t take sides, but it’s clear that she prioritizes her house above all else.
1
“It’s about time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she has, rather than the one she thinks she should have – especially after what happened at the ministry.”
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Neville is one of the most popular characters in the world Harry Potter series, but as the story progresses, more people begin to realize its value. He shows his bravery in The Order of the Phoenix By going to the Ministry and fighting alongside Harry, and McGonagall brings it up when he feels low The half-blood prince. Feeling down about his OWL results, McGonagall encourages Neville to take the classes he wants and be proud of how he’s proven himself.
While his grandmother loves him, she is not always as supportive of Neville as she could be, and McGonagall recognizes this thanks to her many years as a teacher. This quote exemplifies all the best parts of McGonagall and how she is one of the best teachers at Hogwarts. She knows when to step in and give encouragement, And the fact that she rarely gives such direct compliments makes them all the more impressive when she does award them.