Professor McGonagall in future books

[nuffer]

[As always, apologies if this is discussed elsewhere - I did a couple of searches.]

JKR makes a point more than once of briefly showing that McGonagall is an animagus (a cat). I think therefore that this might show up again in the future. Do you think McGonagall's animagus ability will figure in future plots as more than a peripheral fact?

Personally I hope it will, though I can't, as yet, imagine how....

[Inkwolf]

Well, we know that Animagi can get by Dementors, when nobody else can! So I could see McGonagall being sent behind enemy lines for an impoortant spy mission or rescue. She could go in as a cat, transform back, turn the rescu-ee into a kitten, change back, and run out carrying the kitten....

[Sinistra]

Oh that's very imaginative, Inkwolf!

Being an animagus does open many espionage possibilities. Maybe McGonnagall will be more active than we anticipated in future books.

[stellaluna]

Yes, spying is a great opportunity. And it would work good, unless Voldie isn't allergic to cat hair...

[Sinistra]

Actually, if Voldy is allergic to cats, it would be better. Then he would have to leave every time cat/McGonnagall showed up. Either that or take a magical antihistamine.

(Do wizardfolk have allergies???)

[nimbus2006]

But wouldn't it get a bit suspicious? With cats turning up all over the place when Voldy goes into a fit of sneezing? :p

[Trinity]

Anyway I think Voldemort would probably kill any cats close by because he no doubt know about animagi.

[Ashkins]

The Animagi that would be of more use are the unregistered ones. The Animagi that are registered have to give their specific markings. Someone could remember those and keep an eye out for it.

I do see her being a cat more of an importance in the rest of the books though because she can get by the dementors.

[Puffskein]

Yes, she must be an Animagus for some reason other than impressing students. There's so much we don't know about McGonagall, isn't there?

[created_to_worship]

Hmm...Minerva McGonagall: International Witch of Mystery

Kinda has a James Bond ring to it...

~* http://www.geocities.com/hands_lifted_high *~

[supergirly]

I might be going out on a limb here, but am I the only person who feels there's more that meets the eye to Prof. McGonagall? I always look on her as one of the 'central characters' in the stories, but after four books, we still no very little about her. She's an animagi, so she must be a very talented witch, and she obviously was a pretty darn good quiditch player too, (her name on the cup), but what else do we really know about her?

If no-one feels the same way, I'm sure this thread will die a painless death, but if anyone agrees, maybe we could post any info. we can find on the great lady in the books and anything that points to suspicious behaviour? I just think she plays a bigger part in the whole thing than we know.

O.K. guys and gals - over to you, (or not). :??:

[crafty girl]

I don't think any of her behavior has been suspicious so far, but I'd really like to see more of her in future books. I hope she'll become a bigger part of the story than she has been so far, since all of the adult "heroes" are always male (Dumbledore, Lupin, Black, etc.). It would be cool to have some more strong female influence, besides Hermione.

[Barbara Kennedy]

See the existing thread "McGonnagall the cat in future books."

[aes]

I'm not so much a fan of this "thread-closing refer to other threads business," honestly. I mean -- forums stay alive and rejuvinated with new threads. At least merge the threads instead of deleting them.

Anyway, I think McGonagall will play a larger part in the upcoming books, especially with Voldemort's return to power and such. I'm betting we'll see some great stuff from her.

-Colin :)

[seanf]

I do think we are going to see more from Minerva. She is very emotional towards Harry, often showing a different side of herself to him. Is there some sort of conection between them?

BTW - Hey Colin ;)

Sean :)

[Barbara Kennedy]

That is why they want you to do a thorough search under alternate titles BEFORE posting a new thread.
At last count there were over 800 existing threads on this board. Don't you think it polite to at least check out what others may have posted first?

[Fuchsia]

The reason duplicate threads are closed is because it doesn't make too much sense to have the same conversation going on at five different times. It isn't any trouble to add your post to an old thread. :)

Here is the thread that Barbara mentioned.

McGonagall the cat in future books (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5283).

[supergirly]

Quote from Barbara Kennedy - "Don't you think it polite to at least check out what others may have posted first?"

Hey - look I'm sorry. This has happened to me before because what I search under doesn't neccessarily cover every over-lapping thread - I'm so sorry. I wouldn't have wasted time and energy starting this thread if I'd have found the same one on search. No rows and nastiness - it really isn't worth it.

[MadMagic]

Don't worry about it:D

I also think there is more to McGonagall than we know. She seems so mysterious. I don't really know if she will ahve an active role with the old crowd or not. Maybe she will look after the school while Dumbledore is busy with Voldemort or something.

[2Cool127]

I think there is something about Mcgonnagal that we will find out in the next books.....

[Puffskein]

I think McGonagall is quite interesting. She's obviously not a one-dimensional character and she's pretty subtly drawn, but we don't know much about her thoughts and feelings, except that she doesn't like divination. I hope we find out about her background in future books.

[Barbara Kennedy]

Originally posted by supergirly (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=286431#post286431))
Quote from Barbara Kennedy - "Don't you think it polite to at least check out what others may have posted first?"

Hey - look I'm sorry. This has happened to me before because what I search under doesn't neccessarily cover every over-lapping thread - I'm so sorry. I wouldn't have wasted time and energy starting this thread if I'd have found the same one on search. No rows and nastiness - it really isn't worth it.

Sorry, supergirly, [and welcome] it wasn't necessarily pointed at you. I've done the same thing. It's just that we have some folks post the same thing over and over. It just gets a little old.
Come on in and join the madness, and have fun.

[rotsiepots]

Although the thread mentioned by both Fuchsia and Barbara is quite different to what this thread is trying to achieve, I'm going to merge the two to create an all-inclusive thread on the amazing Minerva McGonagall.

Similarly, if you have any qualms about why we close/merge threads, please contact a Forum Leader (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showgroups.php?s=) and we'll be happy to explain it all to you.

Thanks! :)

[Barbara Kennedy]

Originally posted by Puffskein (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=286596#post286596))
I think McGonagall is quite interesting. She's obviously not a one-dimensional character and she's pretty subtly drawn, but we don't know much about her thoughts and feelings, except that she doesn't like divination. I hope we find out about her background in future books.

I want to know more about our curmudgeonly old softy too.

[jordmundt6]

Yeah, it would be interesting because she was probably a seventh year (I think she was in fact) the year that Riddle killed Myrtle. It would be interesting to find out what she was like as a student, what inspired her to become a professor, how she got the qualifications, and how long she's had her position (obviously it's been at least two decades and a half decades or she wouldn't remember Pettigrew).

[Barbara Kennedy]

I'd like to learn a little about why she decided to become an animagus. It's not a minor decision in anyone's life.

[Weatherby]

I've always imagined her to be a wee bit like Hermione but without Ron and Harry to lighten her up.
She's tough on her students so they'll be ready for the real world.

[Barbara Kennedy]

Yes, she's tough on the Griffindor students, but she probably looses sleep worrying about them too. She cares.

[Auri DeMeer]

And she's got really the makings of a spy!
The day Harry was brought to the Dursleys she was able to sit in the wall spying/studying the family a whole day, instead of partying like everybody else.

[dumbleedore]

McGonagall definatly has a soft side. So many times in the books she has come close to crying because of things that are going on.

I have a feeling that McGonagall the cat and Figg's cats will be something important and maybe even Crookshanks in with it.

[tabby]

Originally posted by crafty girl (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=286224#post286224))
I don't think any of her behavior has been suspicious so far, but I'd really like to see more of her in future books. I hope she'll become a bigger part of the story than she has been so far, since all of the adult "heroes" are always male (Dumbledore, Lupin, Black, etc.). It would be cool to have some more strong female influence, besides Hermione.


I agree. The only significant female in the books is Hermione, and she's not as well flushed out as most of the male characters. Minerva could be a great character if JKR shows her a little more. I'm not real optimistic that she will be more in the future books than she was in the previous books though.

[min]

It's only a crazy idea but i think in the next books Fudge could try to expel Dumbledore from Hogwards. Minerva could stand in his place.

[jordmundt6]

If Dumbledore hits the bricks, I doubt Fudge will trust Minerva to replace him properly. But as previously discussed in detail, the Minister of Magic has no power over the appointment or dismissal of the Headmaster or Headmistress.

[Barbara Kennedy]

I'm guessing that Minerva automaticaly becomes Headmistress if anything happens to Dumbledore. She seemed to be handling the responsibility quite well when Dumbledore had been asked to step down in CoS.

[eos]

I posted this earlier on a nother thread. Someone on this thread has already said somehting similar, but I figured I'd just leave it be...

McGonagall's a funny character. She's head of Harry's house, she's always one of the first professors to show up when anything bad happens, she was at #4 Privet Drive when Harry was left on the doorstep, yet somehow, I always have the feeling that she's rather peripheral, especially when compared to someone like Snape.

So here are some general questions that I have...

-If McGonagall's 70 (or so) and Voldy's 68, then was she not a 7th-year at Hogwarts the first time the cos was opened (maybe Head Girl?)? If so, how involved was she? She was in the same house as Hagrid-- were they friends? Did she know Moaning Myrtle? Dumbledore was the Transfiguration teacher, and that was her specialty-- did he take her into his confidence?

-Is she one of the teachers who's married?

-She was very upset about James and Lily's murder. More so than most of the other wizards-- all the attention was on Voldemort's fall. The wizarding public seemed more affected by the Longbottom's deaths than the Potters. So what was McGonagall's relationship with James and Lily-- how close were they?

-There are quite a few examples of friendly competitive banter between her and Snape. They often sit together at meals and enter a crisis-scene side-by-side. Are they just colleagues, or are they in fact good friends?

Well, that's all I can come up with for now.

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

Originally posted by Weatherby (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=288107#post288107))
I've always imagined her to be a wee bit like Hermione but without Ron and Harry to lighten her up.
She's tough on her students so they'll be ready for the real world.


It's more than a little, I think. Hermione gets compared to her at least a couple of times.

It's probably just because of those comparisons, but am I the only one who thinks she might be Muggleborn?

[harp230]

Hmmm... that could be an interesting thought... Couple that with the possibility that she was at Hogwarts when the chamber of secrets was first opened. This could give good reason to the 2nd book being the "key" to the series.....

What does she know? As far as we know there was only only one attack the first time. I seems odd that several people would be lucky and a few just smart to avoid being killed the second time, but the first time someone(while unprepared ) was killed. Could it be possible that someone(even Mcgonogal if she is muggle born could have been petrified?

[rotsiepots]

I'm going to merge your post with the existing thread on McGonagall entitled Professor McGonagall in future books (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5283). :)

If you're unsure whether a topic has been discussed previously, please use the search (http://www.cosforums.com/a/search.php) function located at the top left-hand corner of your screen.

Thanks! :)

[Barbara Kennedy]

Thanks for merging the threads Rotsie.

[eos]

Sorry about that. I did do a search, but it looked like this thread was only about McGonagall being an animagus. Sorry.

[Barbara Kennedy]

Originally posted by eos (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=325482#post325482))
I posted this earlier on a nother thread. Someone on this thread has already said somehting similar, but I figured I'd just leave it be...

McGonagall's a funny character. She's head of Harry's house, she's always one of the first professors to show up when anything bad happens, she was at #4 Privet Drive when Harry was left on the doorstep, yet somehow, I always have the feeling that she's rather peripheral, especially when compared to someone like Snape.

So here are some general questions that I have...

-If McGonagall's 70 (or so) and Voldy's 68, then was she not a 7th-year at Hogwarts the first time the cos was opened (maybe Head Girl?)? If so, how involved was she? She was in the same house as Hagrid-- were they friends? Did she know Moaning Myrtle? Dumbledore was the Transfiguration teacher, and that was her specialty-- did he take her into his confidence?

-Is she one of the teachers who's married?

-She was very upset about James and Lily's murder. More so than most of the other wizards-- all the attention was on Voldemort's fall. The wizarding public seemed more affected by the Longbottom's deaths than the Potters. So what was McGonagall's relationship with James and Lily-- how close were they?

-There are quite a few examples of friendly competitive banter between her and Snape. They often sit together at meals and enter a crisis-scene side-by-side. Are they just colleagues, or are they in fact good friends?

Well, that's all I can come up with for now.


-Minerva McGonagall was definitely in Griffindore as was Hagrid. I have no idea how well she may have known Myrtle, but she probably knew of her at least. Minerva may have been one of the most talented Transfiguration students of her year, so Dumbledore may have taken particular notice of her, but may not have taken her into his confidence until after her seventh year.

-Many of us theorize that Minerva may be a widow, but there is no proof one way or another, yet.

-Again no idea about her relationship with the Potters, other than she was their teacher and/or friend.

-I agree that there seems to be a certain amiable rivalry between Snape and McGonagall. They at least respect each other greatly.

[Severely Snapped]

I, too, felt that McGonagall was the only represetative of the wizarding world who seemed to grasp the tragedy of what happened in Godric's Hollow that night. Yes, she realized that their world was now a better place, but she also recognized that it came at a terrible price. I've always loved her for that.

I feel she's a widow, but I have no proof of that. Just a feeling.

With regards to her relationship with Snape, I think McGonagall does an admirable job of NOT talking down to Snape or patronizing him, or in any way treating him as less than a respected colleague. Given Snape's age, his predilection for picking on her House and needling her about Quidditch, AND the fact that he was once a student of hers, it would be very easy for her to dismiss him in her mind as just some little brat she used to give detention to.

And I would love to have a little more info on how McGonagall felt about Riddle, Myrtle, and the whole Chamber of Secrets brouhaha, since she was there. Neither the book nor the movie really address this most interesting fact. What was it like back then? Did she know Riddle? Myrtle? What did she think of them?

I would love to know more about Minerva in general, actually. Next to Snape, she's my favorite teacher.

[Barbara Kennedy]

In her own way, McGonagall is as complex and mysterious as Snape. She, aparently, just didn't capture the general reader's attention like Snape did.

[harp230]

That is a good way of putting it. I think that she does not get as much attention be cause she does not let off as much of an emotional link. You do not see her emotions much from her point of view and when you do it is so brief the reader does not have much time to make much of a connection.

[Jessica]

I have an off the wall theory that McGonagall is Harry's godmother.

Evidence:

1) Both she and Sirius are among the few characters to watch out for Harry in the immediate aftermath of his parents' death.

2) Both she and Sirius have given Harry very expensive brooms as presents.

3) She is the head of Gryffindor house and may have been so when Lily and James were there. At the very least she was at Hogwarts.

4) James and McGonagall are both animagi. Even if she does not know that the Marauders learned to do this, she probably had to give them some extra help in class in order for them to accomplisg this feat.

Hey its a theory

[min]

Oh, i like the idea, jessicacarstens. It explains a lot of things.

[ron fan]

You know, I always thought that the soft spot Minerva seems to have for Harry just had to do with her feeling sorry for him because he's an orphan, but now that I think about it, it does make more sense that she probably had some kind of close relationship with his parents for her to be as upset about their deaths as she was. I would imagine one or both of his parents was/were favorite pupil(s) of hers and she stayed in touch with them after they left Hogwarts.

And, like Severely Snapped, she is one of my favorite teachers at Hogwarts. She seems to have such an interest in her students on an individual basis and not just when it comes to her class.

[eos]

Now I'm not saying that she's not personally interested in Harry. She definitely seemed to consider both Lilly and James friends (enough to call them by their first names). But what if her treatment of Harry was a little something more. Like carrying out special orders from DD to watch over him, but not too closely; give him help when he needs it, but otherwise stay out of the way...

She's always one of the first to appear on the scene when something whacky happens that needs attention. Yet somehow she's never around to stop Harry's sneaking around like Snape is.

I think DD has things very carefully orchestrated and that she's definitely a part of that...

[harp230]

I never thought about it but she is never around to stop Harry. hmmm.... as tough as her reputation is she should be suspicious

[Shells Bells]

We all know that Professor McGonagall's first name is Minerva. Minerva is the Roman's name for the Greek Goddess Athena.

That said, Athena is the goddess of learning, wisdom, war and crafts. She is also fameous for morphing herself and others into clever disguises. Her symbols are the Owl and the Olive Tree. quoted from Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter Now I don't know how an olive tree would fit into the story but JKR sure makes good use of Owls in her books.

Whoa, that makes it sound like Prof. McGonagall will be playing a Major part in the war against Voldie, especially if she lives up to her name.

[eos]

I really like the idea of the connections between McGonagall and Hermione extending to being Muggle-born. If that's the case, then it would definitely have been a connecting point between McG and Lilly when L was at Hogwarts. With a sister like Petunia, Lilly might have felt the need for comforting words once and a while from a female non-family-member.

I also really like the idea of McG using BOTH her animagus and transformation skills in the role of spy. However, if DD were to use her for this purpose, wouldn't he have kept her around for the unveiling of Sirius and talk of the old crowd, instead of dismissing her around the same time as Poppy?

[Chrysta_Who]

I ADORE the idea of McGonagall being Harry's godmother!! It makes perfect sense: She watched the Dursely home ALL DAY the day Vodemort killed James and Lilly. Why would someone who had no other relation to the child except future teacher do that? ALSO, ya know how the students never know where their teachers go for summer, and ya know how Mrs. Figg lives either next door or just down the road (not sure which)... Do you think maybe McGonagall might have a summer stay with Mrs. Figg as yet another cat just so she can keep an eye on Harry if necessary...? I find it strange that Minerva is a cat, Figg likes cats, Hermione winds up with a cat instead of an owl, Filch has a watch-cat... Why not dogs? Why not owls? Why cats? There is definately something to be discovered about the nature of cats, and I believe Pro. Mcgonagall WILL have something major to add to it.

[eos]

Oooo.... I wasn't sold on the idea of McGonagall as Godmother (too much like the "Heir of Gryffindor" theory for my taste), but now that you mention the idea of one of the cats at Mrs. Figg's actually being McGonagall-- I can see it! And I do agree with what a lot of people are saying regarding Crookshanks being the cat who caused Mrs. Figg to break her leg.

[Prof.Aze]

I really hope McGonagall would be given a break probably in book 5 or 6. She also maybe a secret member of the OotP. :o

[Shells Bells]

Cats, toads and owls are traditionally associated with witches, usually as their familiars. Remember all the black cats that we see as halloween decorations??

And Prof McGonagall as Harry's godmother sounds very plausible.

[Chrysta_Who]

Shells Bells, I know that Owls, Toads, and Cats are all traditionally associated with witches, by why didn't Mcgonagall change into an owl or toad? I'm just thinking that the over-use of cats, and the fact that Mcgonagall is a cat is significant... only time will tell I guess...

[dorcasderr]

Ah, you can never overuse cats. Cats are clever, agile, silent (when they want to be), They can slip in and out of places an owl can't. Why not turn into a cat?

[Jessica]

Originally posted by Chrysta_Who (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=332330#post332330))
I ADORE the idea of McGonagall being Harry's godmother!! It makes perfect sense: She watched the Dursely home ALL DAY the day Vodemort killed James and Lilly. Why would someone who had no other relation to the child except future teacher do that? ALSO, ya know how the students never know where their teachers go for summer, and ya know how Mrs. Figg lives either next door or just down the road (not sure which)... Do you think maybe McGonagall might have a summer stay with Mrs. Figg as yet another cat just so she can keep an eye on Harry if necessary...? I find it strange that Minerva is a cat, Figg likes cats, Hermione winds up with a cat instead of an owl, Filch has a watch-cat... Why not dogs? Why not owls? Why cats? There is definately something to be discovered about the nature of cats, and I believe Pro. Mcgonagall WILL have something major to add to it.


I can't see her staying all summer, but I like the idea that she stops by to check up on Harry as a cat.

Although he's seen her as a cat so he would probably recognize her now.

I wonder if she can talk to cats as a cat. Sirius as a dog was able to communicate with Crookshanks. Maybe her transformed self can talk to Figg's cats to find out what is going on, give them instuctions etc.

[Yadiami]

Minerva is one of the most interesting characters of the books, basicaly because we barely know things about her. We can only speculate.

I like the idea of her being Harry's Godmother, it makes a lot of sense. Also, she could hide from Harry until he's left Hogwarts to avoid favouritism.

She is Dumbledore's second, a very important position. She is there with Crouch Jr., even when the Dementors Kissed him. I think she's part of the Old Gang. If she wasn't in the infirmary, it may have been because she already knew it and she was needed elsewhere.

It also happens that Athena/Minerva is one of my favourite Goddes. As Shells Bells said, they have a lot of similarities. Note she's the Goddes of War, but not pointless war like Mars, she's a strategist, she'll be crucial in the war against Voldemort. And don't forget she plays chess, which is strategy at its best.

Both Severus and Minerva are very interesting and it's fun to see them talk, with that House rivalry, but they're above that. I'm not very neutral since I'm a MM/SS shipper but I bet they're friends.

I also think she was at Figg's house, at least when Harry was there. She didn't agree with leaving him with the Dursleys so she would like to check if he was okey.

[eos]

Hmm... That's really interesting. I never thought before of the signifigance of her giant chessboard in SS/PS, but of course it makes sense that she chose to transfigure a chess board because she herself is a chess player. I'm starting to be convinced that maybe she will have a large role to play in the upcoming "old crowd/order of the pheonix" strategies against Voldemort.

[Jessica]

Additional support for my godmother theory,

I'm paraphrasing from Chapter One of Book 1 when Dumbledore confirms that Lily and James are dead!

"Not Lily and James . . . It can't be . . . Oh Albus!"

Those are not the words of someone who was not close to the Potters

[Filius Flitwick]

Well, she was likely their teacher at Hogwarts...and them being head boy and head girl and in Gryffindor(if they both were) then they were probably pretty close.

[Jessica]

Originally posted by jessicacarstens (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=328496#post328496))
I have an off the wall theory that McGonagall is Harry's godmother.

Evidence:

1) Both she and Sirius are among the few characters to watch out for Harry in the immediate aftermath of his parents' death.

2) Both she and Sirius have given Harry very expensive brooms as presents.

3) She is the head of Gryffindor house and may have been so when Lily and James were there. At the very least she was at Hogwarts.

4) James and McGonagall are both animagi. Even if she does not know that the Marauders learned to do this, she probably had to give them some extra help in class in order for them to accomplisg this feat.

Hey its a theory


Right, sorry. My argument is that she was especially close to the Potters (more so than other students) and that they asked her to be Harry's godmother. I just thought that this quote was additional evidence to support the above theory.

[Puffskein]

There's so little we know about her that it's very possible. I'm keeping an open mind.