Minerva McGonagall is someone we all have learned to love and respect throughout the HP series.Also in the wizarding world she commands almost unanimous respect.

Here are some words or actions by other characters that describe how they feel about her.


Oliver Wood
Bad news, Harry. I've just been to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She - er - got a bit shirty with me. Told me I'd got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I do about you staying alive. Just because I told her I didn't care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the Snitch on it first. Honestly, the way she was yelling at me ... you'd think I'd said something terrible.

Poppy Pomfrey
'She's not here, Potter,' said Madam Pomfrey sadly. 'She was transferred to St. Mungo's this morning. Four Stunning Spells straight to the chest at her age? It's a wonder they didn't kill her.'(OOTP)

'I don't wonder you're shocked, Potter,' said Madam Pomfrey, with a kind of fierce approval in her face. 'As if one of them could have Stunned Minerva McGonagall face-on by daylight! Cowardice, that's what...

SPOILER WARNING!!! THIS CONTENT IS FROM POTTERMORE.DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO FIND THINGS OUT FOR YOURSELF.DON'T READ AND BLAME ME AFTERWARDS!!






























McGonagall’s backstory from Pottermore

Early Years

Minerva McGonagall was the first child, and only daughter, of a Scottish Presbyterian minister and a Hogwarts-educated witch. She grew up in the Highlands of Scotland in the early twentieth century, and only gradually became aware that there was something strange, both about her own abilities, and her parents’ marriage.

Minerva’s father, the Reverend Robert McGonagall, had become captivated by the high-spirited Isobel Ross, who lived in the same village. Like his neighbours, Robert believed that Isobel attended a select ladies’ boarding school in England. In fact, when Isobel vanished from her home for months at a time, it was to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that she went.

1.Under her "gruff" exterior, Prof. McGonagall is an old softie, really.

2.(answering a question about Dumbledore)Although McGonagall is a worthy second in command, she is not Dumbledore's equal.

3.(talking about new contents in Pottermore)The background on Professor McGonagall, I’ve had for years and years and years, and I think I always thought it would have somehow found its way into the story and it just never happened. Harry and Professor McGonagall just never had an interaction or a conversation where that would plausibly come out, so I was left with this life story of this character I liked so much and nowhere to put it. Now I’ve got somewhere to put it. That was so satisfying.