Deputy Headmaster

• Type: Hogwarts Staff Position / Title
• Owners: Minerva McGonagall, Amycus Carrow, Alecto Carrow
• Maker: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The Deputy Headmaster or Deputy Headmistress is the second-highest-ranking position on the staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, subordinate only to the Headmaster. This senior role is typically held by a long-serving and highly respected professor, who is often also a Head of House. The authority of the Deputy Headmaster is significant, encompassing administrative, disciplinary, and academic oversight. In the absence of the Headmaster, the Deputy assumes full command of the school, making them the de facto leader during crises or when the Headmaster is away on business, such as for the Wizengamot or Ministry of Magic. The individual holding this title is a key figure of authority for both students and staff.

The “usage” of the Deputy Headmaster role involves a wide range of duties and responsibilities essential to the day-to-day operation of Hogwarts.

• Acting Head of School: The primary function is to serve as acting Headmaster or Headmistress when the current head is absent or incapacitated. Minerva McGonagall fulfilled this duty on several occasions, most notably after the death of Albus Dumbledore at the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and after Severus Snape fled during the Battle of Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
• Student Administration: The Deputy Headmaster handles significant student-related administrative tasks.
  1. First-Year Welcome: They are responsible for greeting the new first-year students upon their arrival at Hogwarts and leading them to the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony.
  2. Academic Scheduling: Minerva McGonagall was in charge of creating and distributing student timetables at the beginning of the school year, a complex task involving all subjects and professors.
  3. Parental Communication: The Deputy Headmistress sends official correspondence to parents and guardians regarding school-wide issues, such as the security measures implemented when the Chamber of Secrets was reopened.
• Discipline: While all professors can assign detention, the Deputy Headmaster is a principal figure in upholding school rules and meting out serious punishments. During the 1997-1998 school year, the Carrows were explicitly put in charge of all student discipline by Lord Voldemort.
• High-Level Assistance: The Deputy Headmaster assists the Headmaster in managing major school events and crises, such as the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

The position of Deputy Headmaster has been a long-standing role at Hogwarts. The most prominent holder of the title during the events of the Harry Potter series was Minerva McGonagall.

• Minerva McGonagall: As the Head of Gryffindor house and Transfiguration professor, Minerva McGonagall served as the loyal and capable Deputy Headmistress to Albus Dumbledore for many decades. She was known for her strict but fair demeanor, unwavering loyalty to Dumbledore, and dedication to protecting the students and the integrity of Hogwarts. She held the post through both the First Wizarding War and the Second Wizarding War, eventually succeeding Dumbledore and later Snape as Headmistress.
• Amycus Carrow and Alecto Carrow: Following Lord Voldemort's takeover of the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts in 1997, Severus Snape was installed as Headmaster. His deputies were the Death Eater siblings, Amycus and Alecto Carrow. Amycus, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts (re-named simply Dark Arts) professor, and Alecto, the new Muggle Studies professor, were primarily responsible for enforcing Voldemort's cruel ideology. They oversaw all discipline, which involved encouraging students to practice the Unforgivable Curses on fellow students in detention. Their tenure represented a dark perversion of the traditional role, turning it from one of guidance to one of terror. They were defeated and captured during the Battle of Hogwarts.

The position of Deputy Headmaster is a cornerstone of the Hogwarts authority structure. Through Minerva McGonagall, the role represents stability, order, and the enduring values of the school. She often serves as a more grounded and accessible figure of authority than the enigmatic Albus Dumbledore, dealing directly with student issues and the practicalities of running the school. Her presence as Deputy provides a sense of security and consistency for Harry Potter and his peers. Conversely, the appointment of the Carrows as deputies demonstrates the complete corruption of Hogwarts under Voldemort's regime. By placing cruel and sadistic individuals in a position of such power over students, the story illustrates how institutions can be twisted to serve evil ends. The stark contrast between McGonagall and the Carrows highlights the importance of the character and integrity of the person holding the title.

The canonical seven books do not name who served as Albus Dumbledore's Deputy before Minerva McGonagall, nor is it stated who became McGonagall's Deputy Headmaster after she was appointed Headmistress following the Second Wizarding War. The role's depiction in the film series is largely consistent with the novels, with Maggie Smith portraying Minerva McGonagall as the steadfast Deputy Headmistress.