Galatea Merrythought

Galatea Merrythought is a former Hogwarts professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts. She retired at some point during Tom Marvolo Riddle's last year as a student at the school, which was also during Professor Slughorn's previous term as Hogwarts Potions master. Riddle had planned to succeed her in the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor but was thwarted by Headmaster Armando Dippet. However, Riddle would not give up that easily and he tried once more to get the post when Albus Dumbledore became Headmaster, though Dumbledore turned him down as well. After this, Riddle cursed the Defence Against the Dark Arts post so that no one would be able to teach in that position for longer than one school year. Merrythought taught at Hogwarts for at least fifty years.

Etymology

 * The surname Merrythought could imply that she was adept at conjuring the Patronus Charm.


 * Her given name Galatea may have been derived from Greek mythology. There are three notable women in Greek mythology who possessed the name Galatea: First Galatea of Sicily was the name of one of the fifty daughters of Nereus and Doris known as the Nereids, was courted by both Polyphemus and Acis. Second, Galatea of Cyprus was the wife of King Pygmalion. Pygmalion was famous for having created a statute of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, that the goddess brought to life at his request. After receiving the gift of life, Galatea married the king. Last, Galatea was the name of the wife King Lamprus. Galatea prayed to the Greek goddess Leto to transform her daughter into a son so she would not have to sacrifice her according to the command of her husband. Leto granted Galatea's request

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)