Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall (born 4 October c. 1924) has been the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts for over forty years[HP5].

Minerva McGonagall is the new Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, succeeding her esteemed colleague Albus Dumbledore upon his death. It is not yet clear, however, if the school will reopen after the tragic events of Harry Potter's sixth year. If the school does reopen, it seems that Gryffindor will be in need of a new Head of House and that the school may also need a new Transfiguration teacher, seeing that she held both of these positions.

She is famous for two things: firstly, she was a very strict, no-nonsense teacher of Transfiguration, held in respect (and some fear) by all students; secondly, she is an avid Quidditch fanatic. These two facets demonstrate the conflicting sides of her personality: on the one hand, she is strict, severe and unsmiling, while on the other, she longs for her house to be victorious in a trivial sporting event. Although, it must be noted here, that after Albus Dumbledore's recent death, Quidditch will not likely continue to be one of her top priorities. That is, at least until things resume some semblance of normalcy.

No one could have ever been in any doubt as to who was in charge when Professor McGonagall was teaching a class - even Dolores Umbridge was treated with very little respect (and a good deal of contempt) when attempting to assert her authority in McGonagall's classroom. She tolerates no misbehavior and commanded the attention of the whole of her class. Unlike Professor Snape, she is also careful to take an even-handed approach to discipline with all pupils, punishing those from her house even when this could mean losing the House Cup. Her sense of fairness and justice will no doubt serve her well in her new role as Headmistress.

Professor McGonagall was the Head of Gryffindor house. In that former capacity, it is unlikely that she would have taken her usual unbiased approach to discipline as far as to harm her beloved Quidditch team. Indeed, when she caught Harry disobeying Madam Hooch's instructions and flying a broomstick having been told not to in his first year (albeit in an attempt to retrieve Neville's Remembrall from Malfoy), her reaction was to appoint him Seeker of the Gryffindor Quidditch team rather than to punish him.

This one small distraction aside, however, Minerva McGonagall is strict, straight and fair at all times. She was also fiercely supportive of Professor Dumbledore's reign as Headmaster, and being Deputy Headmistress, is his natural successor as Head of Hogwarts.