Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall was a Scottish half-blood witch, the long-standing Head of Gryffindor House, Transfiguration professor, Deputy Headmistress, and later Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A registered Animagus who could turn into a silver tabby cat, she was a key member of the Order of the Phoenix during both the First and Second Wizarding Wars. McGonagall was a formidable and highly respected witch, known for her stern demeanor, sharp intellect, fierce loyalty to Albus Dumbledore, and unwavering commitment to protecting her students, especially Harry Potter.

Minerva was the first child of a Presbyterian minister, Robert McGonagall, and a talented Hogwarts-educated witch, Isobel Ross. Her birth in the Scottish Highlands revealed her mother's magical nature to her Muggle husband, creating a tension in the household. Minerva grew up with two younger brothers, Malcolm and Robert Jr., both of whom also displayed magical ability. She demonstrated her own powerful, uncontrolled magic from a young age (Pottermore).

Upon arriving at Hogwarts, Minerva was revealed to be a Hatstall, as the Sorting Hat spent five and a half minutes deciding whether to place her in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. It ultimately chose Gryffindor. She excelled academically, becoming a Prefect, Head Girl, and winning the Transfiguration Today Most Promising Newcomer award (Pottermore).

After graduation, Minerva accepted a position at the Ministry of Magic in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. During this time, she fell in love with a Muggle named Dougal McGregor but ultimately turned down his proposal, fearing a life of secrecy like her mother's would make them both unhappy. Heartbroken, she requested a transfer to Hogwarts, where Albus Dumbledore offered her a teaching position in the Transfiguration department, which she accepted. She proved to be an inspiring, if strict, teacher (Pottermore).

During Lord Voldemort's first rise to power, Minerva was a loyal member of the Order of the Phoenix. While not an active spy like Severus Snape, she used her Animagus abilities to gather intelligence on the movements of Death Eaters for the Ministry of Magic (Pottermore).

After the Potters' murder and Voldemort's fall, it was Professor McGonagall who met Albus Dumbledore on Privet Drive and expressed grave concerns about leaving Harry Potter with the Dursleys. She spent the entire day watching the family in her cat form, confirming her opinion that they were the “worst sort of Muggles imaginable.” For the next decade, she continued her duties at Hogwarts as Deputy Headmistress.

Professor McGonagall was a constant, formidable presence throughout Harry Potter's school career. She was the one who sorted him into Gryffindor and recognized his innate talent for flying, recommending him for the position of Seeker. While she was a strict disciplinarian, she was also fair, awarding Harry, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Neville Longbottom the final, decisive points that won Gryffindor the House Cup in their first year. She was deeply concerned for student safety during the Chamber of Secrets crisis and was devastated when Hermione Granger was petrified. In Harry's third year, she secretly entrusted Hermione with a Time-Turner to manage her heavy course load. During the rise of the Second Wizarding War, McGonagall's loyalty and courage shone brightly. She openly defied Dolores Umbridge, the Ministry-appointed High Inquisitor, clashing with her on numerous occasions to protect both students and staff. This culminated in her being hit with four stunning spells simultaneously while defending Rubeus Hagrid from Aurors, an attack that sent her to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Upon Albus Dumbledore's death, she became acting Headmistress and fought to keep Hogwarts open.

When Lord Voldemort took control of the Ministry of Magic, McGonagall remained at Hogwarts under the command of Headmaster Severus Snape to protect the students. When Harry Potter returned to the castle, she immediately took command of its defense. She dueled Snape, driving him from the castle, and then led the evacuation of younger students and the animation of the school's suits of armour and statues to fight the invading Death Eater army. During the final stages of the Battle of Hogwarts, she, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Horace Slughorn bravely dueled Lord Voldemort himself.

Following the end of the Second Wizarding War, Minerva McGonagall became the permanent Headmistress of Hogwarts (Pottermore).

Minerva McGonagall is described as a tall, severe-looking witch who often wears her black hair in a tight bun. She has a stern face and typically wears emerald-green robes. A distinctive feature is her square-rimmed spectacles, the markings around the eyes of which are mirrored in her tabby cat Animagus form. Her personality is a mixture of sternness and warmth. She is a no-nonsense disciplinarian who demands respect and has very little patience for foolishness or rule-breaking. However, beneath this strict exterior lies a deep sense of fairness, immense courage, and a fiercely protective nature. She can be surprisingly emotional, showing rare tears at the news of the Potters' deaths and profound grief at Dumbledore's passing. She also possesses a dry wit, which surfaces on occasion, and a deep-seated love for Quidditch, particularly the Gryffindor team.

• Transfiguration Master: McGonagall was exceptionally gifted in Transfiguration, the subject she taught for decades. Her skill was such that she could conjure complex objects and animate dozens of stone statues to fight for her.
• Animagus: She was one of the few registered Animagi of the twentieth century. Her form was a silver tabby cat, which she used for observation and disguise.
• Expert Duelist: McGonagall was a highly powerful and skilled duelist, capable of holding her own against formidable opponents. She successfully dueled Severus Snape to a standstill and later fought Lord Voldemort directly alongside two other powerful wizards.
• Patronus Charm: She could cast a corporeal Patronus, which took the form of a cat with the same spectacle markings as her Animagus form. She used it to send messages, demonstrating advanced mastery of the charm.
• Leadership: McGonagall was a natural leader, effortlessly taking command of the defense of Hogwarts and rallying teachers and students to fight.
• Wand: Her wand was made of fir with a dragon heartstring core, nine and a half inches long, and described as “stiff” (Pottermore).

• Wand: Her primary magical tool.
• Spectacles: Her distinctive square-rimmed glasses.
• Tartan Items: She had a particular fondness for tartan, owning a tartan dressing gown and a tartan biscuit tin.

• Albus Dumbledore: McGonagall's most trusted friend, mentor, and colleague. She was fiercely loyal to him and his ideals, though she was not afraid to question his decisions. His death was a devastating blow to her.
• Harry Potter: She acted as a stern but ultimately protective mentor to Harry. While she rarely praised him openly and frequently disciplined him for his rule-breaking, she consistently supported him, from getting him on the Quidditch team to fighting by his side.
• Severus Snape: Their relationship was one of professional respect mixed with deep-seated distrust. She believed him to be on Voldemort's side for years and was shocked to learn of his true allegiance after his death.
• Dolores Umbridge: McGonagall held Umbridge in utter contempt, seeing her as a cruel and unjust Ministry stooge. Their mutual animosity was a defining feature of Harry's fifth year.
• Elphinstone Urquart: Her former boss at the Ministry of Magic, whom she later married after turning him down several times. They were happily married for three years until his accidental death from a Venomous Tentacula bite (Pottermore).
• Dougal McGregor: A Muggle farmer's son who was Minerva's first love. She declined his marriage proposal to avoid the complexities and potential heartbreak of a mixed-status marriage (Pottermore).

• Minerva: The name of the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, strategic warfare, and the arts. This reflects McGonagall's high intelligence, her role as a general in the Battle of Hogwarts, and her mastery of the intricate art of Transfiguration.
• McGonagall: A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Congail, meaning “son of the most valorous.” J.K. Rowling has stated she chose the surname in honor of the notoriously bad 19th-century Scottish poet, William McGonagall, simply because she found the name irresistible (J.K. Rowling interview).

• In the Warner Bros. film series, Minerva McGonagall is portrayed by Dame Maggie Smith.
• An extensive and detailed biography of Minerva McGonagall, covering her family history, lost love, and marriage, was written by J.K. Rowling and published on the Pottermore website.
• According to Pottermore, McGonagall was a Hatstall between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, a characteristic she shares with another gifted witch from her house, Hermione Granger.