Minerva McGonagall, the strict but fair head of Gryffindor House in the Harry Potter series, was named after the Roman goddess of warriors and wisdom, Minerva, and the worst poet in British history, William McGonagall. Her early life, not detailed in the books, was released by J.K. Rowling years after the series ended. She was born to Robert and Isabel McGonagall, who were a secret couple in love with each other and their magical abilities.
After graduating from Hogwarts, Minerva was offered a position at the Ministry of Magic in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She returned home to her family for one last summer before moving to London to start her ministry career. During this time, she fell in love with a muggle boy named Dougal McGregor, but later realized that their marriage would be a struggle and that she would have to hide her magical abilities. She broke off the engagement and started her ministry career in London.
Minerva was very good at her job and after two years, she was offered a prestigious promotion, which she declined. She then applied to Hogwarts, asking whether she might be considered for a teaching post. The owl returned within hours, offering her a job in the Transfiguration department from the head of the department himself, Albus Dumbledore.
Whenever Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts, Minerva was overjoyed. She threw herself into her work and became a strict but inspirational teacher. She also formed a strong relationship with Dumbledore, who comforted her and shared his wisdom after she confided in him about her past.
Minerva continued to teach at Hogwarts and in 1991, Dumbledore devised a plan to bring the philosopher's stone to the cat to ensure its safety. She helped in guarding it by creating a giant chessboard. The following year, Harry Potter, the boy she had been watching for many years, came to school and was sorted into her house, Gryffindor.
Minerva was strict with Harry, but she also took a particular liking to him. She put him in detention for being out of bed at night and took a hundred fifty points away from Gryffindor to ensure that her own house was in last place for the house cup. However, they ended up winning the house cup thanks to Harry and his friends.
In the final year of the series, when Harry was forced to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, Minerva was one of the first people to join the Order of the Phoenix. She was loyal to Dumbledore and did not try to hide her disgust with Dolores Umbridge, who was appointed as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
When Dumbledore was killed, Minerva participated in the Battle of the Astronomy tower where she fought the Death Eaters off. She dueled Alecto Cara and easily overpowered her. After the battle, she was devastated to hear about Dumbledore's death. She held his funeral at Hogwarts and took on the position of headmistress. However, she was replaced by Snape as headmaster at the start of the following term.
Minerva continued to protect the students and helped Dumbledore's Army have meetings in secret at the end of term. When Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned to Hogwarts, she fought skillfully during the Battle of Hogwarts and was a leading presence in the fight. After the battle, she was awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, for her unwavering allegiance to the Order of the Phoenix.
Minerva remained at her position of headmistress for many years and hired a former student, Neville Longbottom, as the new professor of her biology. Despite facing so much loss and tragedy in her life, she pushed through that tragedy and turned it into something incredible. She was always ready to step up when she was needed, whether for students, her friends, or the entire Wizarding World.
1. Minerva McGonagall is the strict but fair head of Gryffindor House in the Harry Potter series.
2. The name Minerva was chosen by J.K. Rowling for the character, based on the Roman goddess of warriors and wisdom.
3. The surname McGonagall was chosen by Rowling based on William McGonagall, the worst poet in British history.
4. Minerva's early life, which was not in the books but released by Rowling years after the series ended, was explained in the video.
5. Minerva's heritage was explained, starting with her parents, Robert and Isabel.
6. Robert McGonagall lived in the same village as Isabel Ross, and they became close.
7. Isabel Ross was in love with Robert and they ran away together, to the fury of both sets of parents.
8. Minerva was born shortly after they moved into the house Robert got for being a minister.
9. Isabel insisted on naming their daughter Minerva after her own grandmother.
10. After Minerva's birth, Isabel missed her family and the magical community that she had given up to be with Robert.
11. Minerva was very close with her father, Robert, and she shared more qualities with him than she did with her mother.
12. Minerva was offered a position at the Ministry of Magic in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
13. After graduating, Minerva became an animagus, meaning that she could turn from a human to a cat at will.
14. Minerva was unhappy and didn't enjoy her home or workplace, although she did really like her boss Elphinstone.
15. Minerva was very good at her job and after two years she was offered a prestigious promotion but she declined the offer.
16. Minerva was eventually made the head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts.
17. Minerva was in a strong relationship with Albus Dumbledore, who discovered her in tears in her classroom late one evening and she taught him the entire story.
18. Minerva was heartbroken when Dougal, the muggle boy she fell in love with, married someone else.
19. Minerva was very good at her job and after two years she was offered a prestigious promotion but she declined the offer.
20. Minerva was eventually made the head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts.
21. Minerva was in a strong relationship with Albus Dumbledore, who discovered her in tears in her classroom late one evening and she taught him the entire story.
22. Minerva was heartbroken when Dougal, the muggle boy she fell in love with, married someone else.
23. Minerva was very good at her job and after two years she was offered a prestigious promotion but she declined the offer.
24. Minerva was eventually made the head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts.
25. Minerva was in a strong relationship with Albus Dumbledore, who discovered her in tears in her classroom late one evening and she taught him the entire story.
26. Minerva was heartbroken when Dougal, the muggle boy she fell in love with, married someone else.
27. Minerva was very good at her job and after two years she was offered a prestigious promotion but she declined the offer.
28. Minerva was eventually made the head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts.
29. Minerva was in a strong relationship with Albus Dumbledore, who discovered her in tears in her classroom late one evening and she taught him the entire story.
30. Minerva was heartbroken when Dougal, the muggle boy she fell in love with, married someone else.
31. Minerva was very good at her job and after two years she was offered a prestigious promotion but she declined the offer.
32. Minerva was eventually made the head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts.
33. Minerva was in a strong relationship with Albus Dumbledore, who discovered her in tears in her classroom late one evening and she taught him the entire story.
34. Minerva was heartbroken when Dougal, the muggle boy she fell in love with, married someone else.
35. Minerva was very good at her job and after two years she was offered a prestigious promotion but she declined the offer.
36. Minerva was eventually