Minerva McGonagall--DD's Right-Hand Woman or Truly a Secondary Character?

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 115480


>SSSusan: 
> These are aspects of Minerva McGonagall that we've gotten to see.  
> But who IS she, really?  What roles does she play?  Sure, she 
> teaches Transfiguration, she's Head of Gryffindor House, and she's 
> Deputy Headmistress, but how important is she to the Harry Potter 
> story?  Was she in the Order the first time?  Does she do anything 
> useful for the Order this time?  Is it only at Hogwarts that her 
> rank & responsibility are high?  If so, why?  If not, why don't we 
> hear about it?  Is she a powerful witch?  And what the hell is her 
> relationship to DD?

Jen: Wow, this is an excellent compendium on Minerva for future 
reference! Thanks Susan.

As for Minerva, you're right that she isn't often discussed on this 
list even though she gets almost as much page-time as Snape and more 
than the adult Weasleys or Lupin.  I do think McGonagall comes 
across as a "what you see is what you get" character like you said, 
and perhaps that's why we don't spend much time on her. And unlike 
most of the other characters, even Dumbledore, she is a "by-the-
book" person living in a world that is decidedly chaotic and 
ambiguous when it comes to following rules. Even the resident 
bureaucrats who appear to adhere to MOM regulations are apallingly 
subjective and occasionally corrupt in their rule-enforcement. 
McGonagall stands out as someone who consistently and fairly applies 
rules for the safety and education of the students. And that doesn't 
happen often at Hogwarts.

In fact, I would agree with whoever said McGonagall might be Muggle-
born or influenced by Muggles in some way. I think that could 
explain her general outlook as well as why Hermione is so attracted 
to her as a mentor. While it's true Hermione *might* be like 
McGonagall in 40 years, I think it's more true that McGonagall was 
like Hermione when she was young! Hermione has had the influence of 
Ron and Harry to loosen her up a bit and to see there's another 
world out there beside books and learning. McGonagall may never have 
had another influence.

As for Minerva and Dumbledore having a love relationship, that could 
be a very interesting plot twist if the DE's decide to use them 
against each other. If they are together, they hide it well and I'm 
sure one reason would be to keep this info away from the DE's 
children. 

That brings up another thought, if everyone has a weakness that can 
be used against him, like Voldemort using Sirius to lure Harry, what 
would that weakness be for Dumbledore? Would it be Minerva? His 
growing love for Harry (if he hasn't squashed that down already <g>)?

Unfortunately for Minerva, I see her as an interesting character to 
read, but one who will be expendable in the coming War. It would be 
interesting to find out she and Dumbledore have a thing going, or 
that she was a Muggle or something, but I'm not certain those 
factors would would add to Harry's story. Unlike Snape, who is 
intertwined with Harry, James, Godric's Hollow (?) etc., 
Mcgonagall's role doesn't appear to be integral to the conclusion of 
the series. 

Jen Reese