Galatea Merrythought

"Defence Against the Dark Arts [...] was being taught at the time by an old Professor by the name of Galatea Merrythought, who had been teaching at Hogwarts for nearly fifty years."

- Albus Dumbledore on his Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Professor Galatea Merrythought was a witch and Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts from 1895 to 1945, holding the position for fifty years. She worked alongside Albus Dumbledore and Horace Slughorn, her former students, but eventually retired. After her retirement, Tom Riddle, another one of her pupils, was refused the chance to take her place, and so cursed the post so no wizard could hold the occupation for longer than a year. Her ultimate fate remains unknown, although, if she is still alive, she would be over 110 years old.

Early life
Nothing is known of Galatea Merrythought's past, although it is likely that she attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and would've purchased her wand from Ollivander's Wand Shop at Diagon Alley at the age of eleven. She would've graduated at the age of seventeen and it is likely that she had good Defence Against the Dark Arts marks, and possibly an N.E.W.T.

Early Years
"[Dumbledore,] in his time had access to superb teachers at Hogwarts..."

- A description of Albus Dumbledore's teachers, of which Merrythought was one of them.

Merrythought returned to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in about 1895 and became the Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, taking ownership of Classroom 3C and an office on the sixth floor. One of her pupils was a young Gryffindor named Albus Dumbledore, whom she taught very well and who she made an excellent duellist. Other students she taught include; Elphias Doge, Aberforth Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and Horace Slughorn. The Headmaster during her early years was presumably Professor Phineas Nigellus Black, although she also went on to work under Professor Newton Scamander and Professor Armando Dippet.

The Chamber of Secrets and Retirement
"Professor? Is it true that Professor Merrythought is retiring?"

- Tom Riddle questioning Horace Slughorn, the Potions master.

Many years later, when Professor Dippet was Headmaster, Galatea became the teacher of a brilliant student named Tom Riddle. Her fellow colleagues, and possibly Galatea herself, had been impressed by Riddle's skills and determination, and taught him all they knew. During her sixth year of teaching Riddle, the Chamber of Secrets was opened and many of her students were petrified. Eventually, a third-year named Rubeus Hagrid was accused of releasing Slytherin's monster from the Chamber and he was expelled. It was during this year that Galatea decided to retire, whether it was because of these events or not, and she left the school following year.

Etymology

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

Behind the scenes
"And I'll want Professor Merrythought's old office! Not the water closet I had before!"

- Horace Slughorn in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)


 * In the sixth movie, after finally agreeing to come back and teach at Hogwarts, Horace Slughorn demands that when he comes back to Hogwarts, he is given Merrythought's old office.

Appearances

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

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Galatea Têtenjoy