How much does McGonagall know?

[The Gurg]

I have just reread the first chapter of the PS and found that Dumbledore did not tell McGonagall anything about the prophecy that Trelawny had made which was revealed to Harry in OotP. But, now that Harry is going to Hogwarts and the House that McGonagall is the head of, do you think Dumbledore told her anything about the Prophecy, or maybe just the minor, more broarder pieces of imformation.

[HermioneLuna]

Honestly, I don't see why Mcgonagall would need to know. Why would she need to know that Harry must either kill Voldemort or be killed himself? It has nothing to do with school or Hogwarts business, really. Even the less specific aspects of the prophecy something like Neville and Harry were both mentioned in a prophecy, or Harry will do something important don't really need to be told to her. Everyone can hypothesize that Harry will do or be something or someone important because he survived Lord Voldemort's Avada Kedvara curse. Mcgonagall may end up knowing in the end, but I don't see why it's neccessary.

[oryon]

I have just reread the first chapter of the PS and found that Dumbledore did not tell McGonagall anything about the prophecy that Trelawny had made which was revealed to Harry in OotP. But, now that Harry is going to Hogwarts and the House that McGonagall is the head of, do you think Dumbledore told her anything about the Prophecy, or maybe just the minor, more broarder pieces of imformation.

I really believe that Dumbledore told and tells Prof. McGonagall everything that deals with the school, and i think that not only McGonagall knew about the Profecy but the entire Order of the Phoenix...it is highly possible that they discussed everything there, in the Order I mean...:)...what do YOU think?

[Barbara Kennedy]

There are things that must be kept secret for the safety of those involved and the Prophecy is one of those things.
Everyone seems to think it is something that every member in the Order knows. I do not belive this is true.
The fewer who know the information, the safer all involved would be, because even having knowledge of the Prophecy could endanger someone.

[offca]

it is true - DD knows, that sometimes it is better not to trust anyone - it doesn't say, that McGonogal may go to LV to say it - I would never say that. but she may say it someone who she believes is trustfull.. and then to another.. .and when more than 5-7 people know - it is like no secret anymore. I doubt even if Harry's parents knew about that. It may be that Harry is the first person DD said to about prophecy.

DD always wanted Harry to be treated "normally" - and how could you if knowing such horrible prophecy?

[oryon]

There are things that must be kept secret for the safety of those involved and the Propohecy is one of those things.
Everyone seems to think it is something that every member in the Order knows. I do not belive this is true. The fewer who know the information, the safer all involved would be, because even having knowlwdge of the Prophecy could endanger someone.

I respectfully don`t agree with you: I think that Dumbledore WOULDN`T keep this crucial info from the other members of the Order, and of course he told only the trustwordy peoples but I think in the Order are only thies kind of people...:)

[indigoeyes]

It could be that Mc Gonagall already knows...because we don't know what she's told n what not since she's never the one who tells Harry the "crucial information" (may be just once or twice!)

[Picko]

The knowledge of the prophecy and it's relation to Harry would be known by a minimum of people. I can't imagine Dumbledore allowing anyone who can be controlled by the Imperius Curse to know as that raises a significant security issue. I would say that for much of OotP, the Order members were just doing what they were told and didn't actually know why.

[dumbleedore]

McGonagall could know small amounts in relation to the prophecy etc etc. It seems that she, along with Snape, are Dumbledore's right and left hands respectivly- he will make descisions without them, however he respects their opinion and trusts them deeply. They've proven themselves to be trustworthy.

However I don't think she knows the full contents- I think only Dumbledore and Harry are the only ones to know the prophecy in full. However, I think Dumbledore has had to fill people like Snape and McGonagall in slightly so that they know why Harry is as important as he is and why Trelawney stays at Hogwarts.

[filius]

Dumbledore is the only one who knows the full prophesy. I don't think McGonagall would treat Harry the same if she knew theprophesy. It would change Harry's life completely. She would be symathetic and emotional. I'm sure she would blab the secret to other teacher as well and you know how words can travel. Not that she is on the "wrong side" or anything. Just that leaking a secret out isn't a very good idea. Voldemort has ways to enter the mind. It wouldn't be a wise move to tell McGonagall no matter how much Dumbledore trusts her. Only the people who need to know should know. That way, they prophesy can carry it's course without any interuptions that might sabbotage either side (sides being Harry and Voldemort). It might not be a good idea to tell Ron and Hermione for that matter. But harry needs support and it's a HUGE secret.

[Murtlap]

I doubt even if Harry's parents knew about that. It may be that Harry is the first person DD said to about prophecy.

DD always wanted Harry to be treated "normally" - and how could you if knowing such horrible prophecy?


But surely Dumbledore would have told Lily and James - after all they knew that Voldemort was coming after them, wouldn't they have been warned why? I can see why it would be kept to a few people now, after the prophecy has begun to be true, but I can't see why Dumbledore would keep it from the Potters before it had happened - I would think they should be told so they can understand why Voldemort is seeking them out.

[Gryffindorgod]

But surely Dumbledore would have told Lily and James - after all they knew that Voldemort was coming after them, wouldn't they have been warned why? I can see why it would be kept to a few people now, after the prophecy has begun to be true, but I can't see why Dumbledore would keep it from the Potters before it had happened - I would think they should be told so they can understand why Voldemort is seeking them out.

But Dumbledore didn't know if the prophecy was about Harry or Neville, it wasn't until Voldemort tried to kill Harry that they knew it would have to be him. Would you really want to know if a prophecy had been made that might affect your son?

[Murtlap]

But Dumbledore didn't know if the prophecy was about Harry or Neville, it wasn't until Voldemort tried to kill Harry that they knew it would have to be him. Would you really want to know if a prophecy had been made that might affect your son?

Yes, he didn't know which child it referred to, so wouldn't you warn both children's parents? And yes, I would want to know if a prophecy had been made about my child, of course I would. Rather that than be unprepared against what was coming.

[oryon]

But think at the time when Harry arrived to Grimmauld Place 12. There everybody knew about the Prophecy, because they all gave small clues to Harry about Voldemort`s new "weapon" (do you remember?)...and there where some people who could be easily put under the Imperius curse....so I think that everybody from the Order knows the hole story..:D

[filius]

They knew about the prophesy but not what it said.

[oryon]

But they all talked about it, it can not be that they where just talking without knowing about the prophecy :D...(the hole deal I mean..:D)

[DarknessFalls]

Yes, he didn't know which child it referred to, so wouldn't you warn both children's parents? And yes, I would want to know if a prophecy had been made about my child, of course I would. Rather that than be unprepared against what was coming.

See now this is the thing about prophecies, and time travel fits in here too...

If you know something bad has to happen, you're most likely going to attempt to stop it anyway, and that can be very bad for the future.

[fleur magique]

They probably knew what the prophecy said. Like oryon said, when Harry got to 12 Grimuald they were telling him about what was going on. While Sirius wanted to tell him everything Molly didn't want him to know much so she cut him off before he told Harry too much. By her cutting him off before he told everything would suggest that she knew what he was about to say, so both she and Sirius know what was going on. However even if people in the order didn't know what the prophecy said they knew that there was a prophecy made about Harry.

[peddlerofdeath]

... If you know something bad has to happen, you're most likely going to attempt to stop it anyway, and that can be very bad for the future.

Thats exactly what did happen. James faught LV but lost in the end. I believe DD told them the prophecy knowing full well that James wouldn't go down without a fight.

Then after James succombed to LV Lilly was still standing there next to Harry's crib. Why hadn't she used the time James and LV were dueling to pick up Harry and run?

Because, she knew the prophecy. Lilly knew LV had to mark Harry as his equal. She had probabley been told by DD that the only way to save Harry was to die for him and bestow the anchient magic that saved his life. So that is what she did.

[SpAzZz553]

I think he probably told her, I mean doesnt he tell her like everything! shes like his "sidekick"... lol

[AlbusDumbled0re]

I don't think he told her. I think the only people who know the prophecy are Dumbledore and Harry.

[groovybacon]

I believe most everyone in the order perhaps knows of the Prophecy and knows that it would be disasterous if Voldemort ever got ahold of it; however, I do not think that they know specifically what it says. I think only Harry and Dumbledore know exactly what it says. I think the rest of the Order just logically assumes that the Prophecy is about Harry since clearly, he's been singled out in the wizarding world by Voldemort. I doubt anyone else (besides Harry and Dumbledore) knows about the Neville angle, though.

I think it is reasonable for me, the reader, to assume that most of the Order know that there is, in fact, a prophecy because it stands to reason that if some of the Death Eaters and Voldemort know that the 'weapon' is the Prophecy and thus, imperative for them to retrieve it, the Order would be aware also.

As for who knows more in the Order, I think Dumbledore knows all there is to know, of course. And I tend to believe that McGonagall and Snape know more than the others, even more than Sirius knows regardless of the fact that he is Harry's godfather.

[DarknessFalls]

I think he probably told her, I mean doesnt he tell her like everything! shes like his "sidekick"... lol

She didn't know Sirius was innocent, she was surprised both times Harry even attempted anything in the first two books...there are probably more instances where Dumbledore told her 'Some but not all' to put it lightly.

[Murtlap]

See now this is the thing about prophecies, and time travel fits in here too...

If you know something bad has to happen, you're most likely going to attempt to stop it anyway, and that can be very bad for the future.


Ok you have a point, I'll concede that Dumbledore may not have told them the details of the prophecy if he thought their subsequent actions would distort the path of the prophecy and make things worse, BUT, it's such a big thing, and Dumbledore would have known it was likely that the parents of the boy Voldemort chose would die, that I think he would have owed it to them to tell them the whole truth. Dumbledore would surely have had more respect for James and Lily than to let them go to their death not understanding why they had to die.

[Sarah_Hedwig]

Ok, McGonagall doesn't know as much as Dumbledore, but more than the other teachers at Hogwarts. I think that she was like Hermione in her day, very smart, yet her courage was what placed her in Gryffindor. She's the most intelligent teacher there in that school in my mind, almost more intelligent than Dumbledore.

Now if your talking in words of like Voldermort and everything, she's knows a good sum, but definetly not a whole bunch like Harry's friends. Ron and Hermione might know more than her...

[offca]

But surely Dumbledore would have told Lily and James - after all they knew that Voldemort was coming after them, wouldn't they have been warned why? I can see why it would be kept to a few people now, after the prophecy has begun to be true, but I can't see why Dumbledore would keep it from the Potters before it had happened - I would think they should be told so they can understand why Voldemort is seeking them out.

prophecy is not a worning - you cannot change it. if you know it - you try to run away from it - but anyway it will get you, just in different way you was expecting.
can you imagine the horror of parents knowing it? they knew that LV is after them - like after other people from Order.

and one more thing - till the attack of LV DD couldn't be sure the prophecy was real - only this night made him be sure it was true.

and even now - I am sure if DE found out that Harry is meant to be a murderer of their Lord - wouldn't they anyway try to kill him? now they still do not know if he has any role in the future - that maybe he was important only in the past, or that he is just one of many who have power to vanquish the Dark Lord...

and just imagine this headline in Daily Prophet: "Harry-when at least he will kill the Dark Lord? How long we need to wait?" etc...

[Mundungus Fletc]

Filius wrote
I'm sure she would blab the secret to other teacher as well and you know how words can travel.
Minerva 'blab'! :eyebrows: I doubt she's ever known how to. I don't think that she would have been told the whole prophecy for the reasons that have been set out above - it's simply too important to keep Voldemort in the dark. Why would DD burden her with the information?

[Seven]

McGonagall has always been loyal to Dumbledore. I think anyone Dumbledore trusts, we can trust.

[Hannibal Barca]

I have just reread the first chapter of the PS and found that Dumbledore did not tell McGonagall anything about the prophecy that Trelawny had made which was revealed to Harry in OotP. But, now that Harry is going to Hogwarts and the House that McGonagall is the head of, do you think Dumbledore told her anything about the Prophecy, or maybe just the minor, more broarder pieces of imformation.

I can't believe there is a question about this. McGonagall is a member of the Order if I'm not mistaken. she obviously knows about it in OotP, since the rest of the Order knows. (they all talk about it, and guard it as well)

I'm fairly certain she knew in the SS as well, as most, if not all of the Order seemed to know then too. it's how Dumbledore knew to tell the Potters to go into hiding, and McGonagall seemed to know at least that much when Dumbledore spoke to her on Privet Drive. it seems likely that Dumbledore would've at least told the Order WHY the Potters were going into hiding (even if he didn't tell them the entire prophecy)

[Granger104]

:tu:

[Fool]

My guess is that Dumbledore figures the fewer people who know the better. You wouldn't want one of your trusted people kidnapped and tortured until they give up vital information.

[RemusLupinFan]

I tend to agree that McGonagall and the rest of the Order do not know the contents of the Prophecy, but they do know there actually was a prophecy made. First of all, that is private information that concerns Harry only. Dumbledore only knows because he was the one who heard the prophecy being made by Trelawney. The reason the prophecies are designed so that only the person it was made about can touch it without suffering madness is to protect the information from falling into the wrong hands, or being found out by someone who has no business knowing. Therefore, I don't believe Dumbledore would have told McGonagall or the Order.

The other reason I don't believe Dumbledore told McGonagall or the Order about the prophecy is the reason that Barbara Kennedy mentioned. Dumbledore wouldn't have wanted the Order to know about the prophecy in case the information was ever to be forced from them by a Death Eater or by Voldemort. This would have been a very dangerous situation indeed. This really has nothing to do with Dumbledore not trusting McGonagall or the rest of the Order. But the fact is that Voldemort could have made any one of them reveal information that they wouldn't have chosen to reveal willingly. Therefore, it was a matter of safety for Dumbledore to keep the contents of the prophecy to himself.

[lineon12]

moggonagel is dumb. right hand woman so i thin kthat she would know a lot more than you think

[H4V0K]

i think macgonagol knows a lot more then anyone thinks just because of how close she is with dumbledor

[LuvHP_001]

There are things that must be kept secret for the safety of those involved and the Prophecy is one of those things.
Everyone seems to think it is something that every member in the Order knows. I do not belive this is true.
The fewer who know the information, the safer all involved would be, because even having knowledge of the Prophecy could endanger someone.

true true!

[winter snow]

I believe most everyone in the order perhaps knows of the Prophecy and knows that it would be disasterous if Voldemort ever got ahold of it; however, I do not think that they know specifically what it says. I think only Harry and Dumbledore know exactly what it says. I think the rest of the Order just logically assumes that the Prophecy is about Harry since clearly, he's been singled out in the wizarding world by Voldemort. I doubt anyone else (besides Harry and Dumbledore) knows about the Neville angle, though.

I think it is reasonable for me, the reader, to assume that most of the Order know that there is, in fact, a prophecy because it stands to reason that if some of the Death Eaters and Voldemort know that the 'weapon' is the Prophecy and thus, imperative for them to retrieve it, the Order would be aware also.

As for who knows more in the Order, I think Dumbledore knows all there is to know, of course. And I tend to believe that McGonagall and Snape know more than the others, even more than Sirius knows regardless of the fact that he is Harry's godfather.

I agree with this assessment. It makes alot of sense. Snape and McGonagall are Dumbledre's right and left hands. It would explain why Snape always looks out for Harry to keep people from killing Harry. [Quirrel, (Sirius, he thought it was Sirius who was a threat) etc.

Sometimes I get the feeling that McGonagall looks at Harry differently than she looks at the other students. She comes across as stern, and severe, but I've sensed a softness there that doesn't come out often.

The rest of the order I believe knows OF the prophecy but not the full contents. I think they know it pertains to Harry, but that's all they know.

This is a Huge secret, and the less that people know about it, the better it is. This is dangerous information for a weak mind to hold.

I don't believe for a second that mcGonagall would "blab" about the prophecy to anyone. She's much smarter than that. She would never be a security risk. I just don't picture it.

[The Gurg]

I do agree with those who are saying that she was told certain pieces of imformation and asked to keep secret about it

[oryon]

McGonagall has always been loyal to Dumbledore. I think anyone Dumbledore trusts, we can trust.

exactly...she was, is and will be loyal 100% to Dumbledore....and if not Dumbledore always can look throught her and know if she is unloyal, then deal with her....but this won`t happen, I`m sure..:D

[SGC]

Bringing up an old subject...this has bothered me lately. In PS, McGonagall sat (as a cat) on Privet Drive all day while the parties were going on. When Dumbledore got there and she realized that he was going to leave Harry there with the Dursley's, she didn't even know who they were. She acted shocked that DD would leave Harry there. My question is this...If McGonagall didn't know that the Dursley's were Harry's relative, what was she doing on Privet Drive?

[Machiavelli]

Bringing up an old subject...this has bothered me lately. In PS, McGonagall sat (as a cat) on Privet Drive all day while the parties were going on. When Dumbledore got there and she realized that he was going to leave Harry there with the Dursley's, she didn't even know who they were. She acted shocked that DD would leave Harry there. My question is this...If McGonagall didn't know that the Dursley's were Harry's relative, what was she doing on Privet Drive?Hagrid told her Dumbledore would show up there. She knew Dumbledore had Harry - or knew where he was and was acting to protect him; what she didn't know was WHY Privet Drive. Seems Dumbledore was rushing about all day getting things in order and she didn't know where to find him so she just went where Hagrid said he would show up and waited.

[whizbang121]

I love chapter one. There's so much in there.

By the time Harry enters school, I would think that McGonagall would have to something about the prophesy as she is the Deputy Headmistress of the School.

[Bunny]

Prof. McGonagall certainly knows a great deal. This is because they discuss a great deal at the Order and how to deal with the problems as they arise but also because if DD is not at the school (and so far he has been removed twice and summoned once) she needs to be on top of things so that the School can run properly.
DD knows that she can be trusted and I believe that she knows things other people don't, but I don't think he has told her the contents of the prophesy.
I think that he has complied with the MOM and not told anyone.
I do think that DD keeps a lot to himself, partly to protect people and partly to protect the information.
It is my belief that there was only one person that knew the contents of the prophesy and that was Dumbledore. Trelawney was not aware of her first prediction just as she was not aware of her second. However, DD had to protect her so that Voldemort couldn't find out the prediction by force. This also explains why she is allowed to stay in the school after Umbridge tries to oust her. This is told to her by Prof. McGonagall, then backed up by DD
Besides if DD does not reveal to many what he knows, any information he has can be used to help Harry.

[SquibOnline]

I don't think McGonagall needs to know