Minerva McGonagall-/Dumbledore

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 115463


from Great post on McGonagall by SSS:
>
> 
> 
> Hopefully it is apparent that her role has changed from beginning to 
> present.  She evidences more responsibility, she is officially 
> Deputy Headmistress, if she was not before; she stands firm, she 
> metes out punishment.  For me, Harry's thought [just above] when 
> McGonagall had been sent to St. Mungo's spoke volumes about how HE 
> sees her importance.  I wonder why we HPfGU'ers just don't talk 
> about her much....
> 
> With apologies for the length of this,
> Siriusly Snapey Susan

Finwitch:

Umm.. As I recall, McGonagall signed the first letter Harry recieved
from Hogwarts as Deputy Headmistress.

As to why we don't talk about her much, (unlike the never-ending
discussion on Snape) I think it's because there's nothing to point
that she has secrets, quite the opposite, as she's the only
*Registered* animagus we have been introduced to (one of 7 on 20th
century), in contrast to the 4 unregistered (Rita Skeeter + 3 friends
of Lupin the werewolf).

What comes to her relationship with Dumbledore, well...

1) In the first appearance, she's been teaching 15 years. I don't know
if all of it was at Hogwarts under Dumbledore. Maybe she had just
moved to teach at Hogwarts, because Voldemort/DE killed the previous
Transfiguration teacher?

2) She's obviously in awe of Dumbledore's *powers*, and finds 
Dumbledore to be such a great wizard. Particularly when Dumbledore
recognizes her in cat-form! She's registered, fine, but no one's done
that before!

3) Before this scene, she and Dumbledore may well have been in a
strictly professional relationship, with Dumbledore standing higher. 

4) She shows herself as one who won't believe rumours without getting
comfirmation from someone who truly knows.

5) She objects, for the first time perhaps, to something Dumbledore
deems best.

She has her opinions Dumbledore doesn't agree with, but I believe that
points 4) and 5) are why Dumbledore begins to confide in her
afterwards. Just what IS the deal with Dumbledore offering Lemon Drops
and the other *always* refusing? Sure, Dumbledore likes them and it's
only polite to offer, but none other will have one? (Dumbledore's
favourite way not to answer a question, I've noticed: Distraction by
candy).

Finwitch