McGonagall-ness (Re: Angry Harry in HBP?)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 119875


Alla wrote previously:
>>> Have you EVER seen her acting nice and motherly to Harry during 
>>> the course of the series? She is fair, IMO but not kind.


Maddy writes:
> > Ah, but you're forgetting that she gave Harry his Nimbus 2000 in 
> > PS/SS and let him on the Quidditch team in his first year. And 
> > I'd say that's acting pretty kind. And yes, it probably was 
> > largely due to the fact that Harry showed great ability as a 
> > Seeker and she wanted to see Gryffindor win the Cup, but I think 
> > she wouldn't have done that for just anyone.

Alla:
> Minerva MAY feel affection for Harry, I just don't see it int he 
> books. Could you give me some canon on this one?
> 
> I suppose her "I wil help you become an auror even if it will be 
> the last thing I do" counts, but besides that I cannot remember 
> anything.
 

SSSusan:
Absolutely, I think her "I will help you become an auror if it's the 
last thing I do" counts as an example of MM's care & concern for 
Harry.  YES, she's royally ticked at Umbridge, but she's at least 
partially [and I think probably mostly] ticked on Harry's behalf.  

I think the broomstick gift shows concern, too, but since it can be 
viewed as merely promoting her Quidditch team's chances of victory, 
it carries a little less weight in the "McGonagall cares for Harry" 
evidence pile.

On the other hand, I can think of a couple of other examples.  I'm 
away from my books, so I can't include quotes, but when MM, Flitwick, 
Fudge & Hadrid are in the Three Broomsticks talking w/ Madam Rosmerta 
in PoA, MM gets teary-eyed talking about the Godric's Hollow/Sirius' 
betrayal situation.  One *could* argue that this merely shows she was 
fond of James & Lily, but I think it carries over to caring for 
Harry, too.

The best example I could think of offhand, though, is in GoF.  Before 
Harry is about to embark upon the first TWT task, MM goes to great 
pains to make sure Harry knows it's okay if he doesn't do well.  I 
don't think this was Gryffindor HoH talking to a Gryff student; I 
think it was actual concern for his safety & his feelings.  A 
professor who didn't care about the student would likely have said 
nothing.  Also, as soon as the task was over, MM rushed to him to 
congratulate him.  She was beaming, if I recall.  I think she's proud 
of him, but I think she's also very happy that he came through alive 
& well.

She's *never* going to be a Molly, but I think we get glimpses of her 
caring for Harry.

Siriusly Snapey Susan