The Story of Minerva McGonagall (Her Entire Life) - Harry Potter Explained

Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. In this video, we’re going to be discussing Hogwarts transfiguration professor, and later headmistress, Minerva McGonagall.
Minerva McGonagall is a Scottish half-blood witch that attended Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Her age is a bit unclear- and actually a bit of a canon blunder. In Fantastic Beasts 2: The Crimes of Grindelwald, we see a younger McGonagall, who appears to be in her 20s or so. But, this is not consistent with what JK Rowling had revealed about McGonagall in the original series. Originally, Rowling stated that McGonagall started teaching at the school in 1956, at the age of 21. However, Fantastic Beasts 2 takes place in the year 1927 - it just doesn’t really add up. In a 1995 conversation between Umbridge and McGonagall, McGonagall reveals that she had been working at Hogwarts “Thirty-nine years this December,". Which is consistent with what Rowling had said initially. Anyway, moving on..
McGonagall is a half-blood, which means that she was born to one magical and one non-magical parent. Her parents were muggle Robert McGonagall and witch Isobel Ross. She also had two brothers- Malcolm and Robert Jr.
Minerva had a bit of an interesting upbringing, because her father never knew that her mother, Isobel, was a witch.
"Isobel could not bring herself to mar the bliss of the honeymoon by telling her smitten new husband that she had graduated top of her class in Charms at Hogwarts, nor that she had been Captain of the school Quidditch team."
Like most other witches and wizards, McGonagall attended Hogwarts herself, and like Dumbledore and Tom Riddle, she was the most talented student of her entire year. She achieved top grades in her Newts and owls, and showed powerful magical ability from a very young age- showing a particular affinity for transfiguration, which we know she later teaches. Shortly after arriving at the school she went to the sorting ceremony, where students are sorted in to their respective houses. McGonagall’s sorting proved to be a rare occasion, as she was a ‘hatstall’ - something that only occurs once every 50 years or so. This is when the sorting hat takes longer-more than 5 minutes to be exact- to make its decision. It occurs when a student has a personality that could be considered equally suitable for more than 1 house, and in McGonagall’s case, the hat deliberated for 5.5 minutes on whether she should be in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. She was eventually sorted in to Gryffindor.
When Mcgonagall was finished studying at Hogwarts, her future looked bright, as she had continually impressed her professors and peers while attending the school. Upon graduation she was offered a position at the department of magical law enforcement in the ministry of magic, the department of the ministry responsible for upholding wizarding law. However, before starting in her new role, she returned to her parents home for the summer to spend time with her family.
It was during this summer that McGonagall first met Dougal McGregor, a clever, handsome muggle farmer who lived in the same town. The two instantly hit it off, sharing common interests, a sense of humour, and just an overall outlook on life. The pair got along so well, in fact, that Mcgregor eventually proposed to Mcgonagall. Without hesitation, McGonagall accepted his offer, but as some time passed, she began to truly consider the implications of marrying Dougal. You see, similar to the situation with her parents, McGonagall had failed to inform Dougal that she was in fact, a witch. This was the exact mistake that her mother had made with her father, and McGonagall saw first hand the impact that this had on their family. McGonagall was a talented young witch with a promising future at the ministry of magic, and telling Dougal that she was magical would have jeopardized this future- breaking laws pertaining to the international statute of secrecy. If she told him that she was magical, she would be breaking wizarding law and throwing away her future job, and if she didn’t tell him that she was magical, and they wed anyway, it could mean following her mother’s unhappy footsteps. She could not bear the thought of ruining her future family in a similar fashion.
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[@HarryPotterTheory]

Thanks for watching guys. If you enjoy the content please like the video and subscribe to support the channel!

[@Debalina08]

# first reply

[@wmcchow4352]

Hi I am second

[@wrathblackfire4834]

I love your work Harry potter theory. But I do have 1 question that i'm confused on. Did JK Rowling write her years all the way to 1999 and than reversed the years? I watched the video and it's the years that are throwing me off.

[@nintendogamingchannel1007]

I was shocked to learn of her sad Backstory and her relationship with Muggle Dougal McGregor

[@PhilBagels]

Maybe I missed it, but when did McGonagall become an animagus? Obviously, it was before Harry was born, but when? And why?

[@reginaphalange8879]

"Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge?" "Yes" "You called her a liar?" "Yes" "And you told her He Who Must Not Be Named is back?" "Yes" *Have a biscuit, Potter*

[@jayfeatherthesnarkymedicin8160]

Regina Phalange Really loved that part in the book!

[@angelojonathan8381]

Have a what

[@reginaphalange8879]

@@angelojonathan8381 A biscuit For heaven's sake, Potter! *Have another biscuit*

[@angelojonathan8381]

@@reginaphalange8879 really love that scene don't you?

[@reginaphalange8879]

@@angelojonathan8381 Omg yaaasss 😂😂😂 Why the HELL didnt they have that in the movie? Maggie Smith's delivery would have been GOLD

[@odoacredacalcutta5085]

Minerva had the privilege to be interpreted by Maggie Smith, the best actress in the entire movie without any doubt. She made memorable every scene she's in, even thought none of them is actually one of the most important.

[@alcostello6114]

She essentially maxed out the value to her character. That says a lot about the acting prowess of Maggie Smith

[@CorpseBride64]

I agree, she is outstanding. I wish she had gotten a lot more screen time.

[@rockzs74r]

to be fair every single adult charaacters in Harry Potter is portrayed by a seasoned great actor the best british acting industry could offer.

[@realsmoothjazz]

She’s second only to Alan Rickman for me! But yes I love Maggie Smith too

[@jackley2113]

She was written well too. A character with many layers and funny scenes. She also has an amazing duel scene too

[@yomommasofatthanoshadtosna3479]

But this is touching... Professor McGonnagall had a pretty hard life... Lost most of the people she loved and cared about. I really like her character... She is stern and strict but she has a motherly side, and was one of the best teachers in my eyes. I cannot forget, in the Order of the Phoenix, when she disliked Umbridge openly, and stood up to her. McGonnagall was pretty bossy and sassy and I loved that. Also, in the books, Minerva was important in Harry's life, and out of his great respect for this professor, Harry cruciated a man for spitting on her face. Minerva McGonnagall was played very honorably by Dame Maggie Smith, and I think she was perfect for the role.

[@buddyobbard2176]

*One* of my favorite McGonagall scenes is where Peeves is trying to unscrew a chandelier to drop on Umbridge and McGonagall walks by and tells him it unscrews the other way. 😂

[@yomommasofatthanoshadtosna3479]

@@buddyobbard2176 Mine too! And the iconic "have a biscuit Potter"

[@yomommasofatthanoshadtosna3479]

@@buddyobbard2176 She's a pretty badass professor 😂

[@buddyobbard2176]

@@yomommasofatthanoshadtosna3479 I agree 101%

[@yomommasofatthanoshadtosna3479]

@@buddyobbard2176 thanks 😂 The part when she duels Snape in the deathly hallows is also badass as hell

[@charleslee8313]

Instead of Newt, I wish Warner Brothers had made a movie about Minerva. This is an impressive story.

[@pennyboulton9676]

You mean as well as Newt.

[@BlackangelKatakuri]

Or Dumbledore

[@BlackangelKatakuri]

@@pennyboulton9676 Only if it was just about him finding magical creatures . Need a villain? Easy have him fend off wizard poachers . There was no need to ever have the films be called what they're called and focus on Grindelwald .

[@Menagerie_OS]

Frankly they need to make a movie about ilvermorny. Would also fit today's feminist society as the origin is a female forward role.

[@maseohvelli1852]

They have like 2 more movies to get her involved as a young professor at least in fantastic beasts especially now they’re at hogwarts hiding out

[@bethmichael4091]

The cutest line ever was her smiling and saying she always wanted to do that spell. Lol and miss Weasley kinda looking sideways at her lol

[@stevestokes4206]

She is my favorite teacher at hogwarts!! I've always wanted to be in her class and as an actress she is even more amazing, such a beautiful woman with a magical soul.

[@aerofiles5044]

@xyz abc Don't call other people dumb when you are the one who doesn't understand lmao.

[@pennyboulton9676]

Mine too. McGonagall is a bad arse witch.

[@peggyknecht5551]

Mine too. And Dame Maggie was the perfect one to portray her. She is such a great actress! I also loved her in Downton Abbey!

[@stevenceja4706]

McGonagall and Flitwick were always my favorite professors. I love the fact that they were both equally suited for Gryffindor and Ravenclaw because those are the 2 houses I always seem to get

[@aaronkozelii8300]

I still can’t help but feel like she’s horribly lonely.

[@blueness9133]

Yeah, her best friend Dumbledore had been killed, her only real mentor, the person she looked up too. Must have been horrible for her to see Dumbledore dead :(

[@shadyyam2488]

@@blueness9133 yea exactly :(

[@blueness9133]

@@shadyyam2488 sadness :(

[@bostonrailfan2427]

he was her best friend but she has others who love her and care for her closely so she isn’t alone. she might be bored now that she has to deal with parents and school governors but she isn’t lonely

[@Jskinas]

@@bostonrailfan2427 There's a difference between being alone and lonely.

[@haldosprime3896]

I appreciate that Isobel and Robert's marriage was portrayed the way it was. Robert did not hate Isobel for who she was, it was that trust was no longer possible as what was kept from him was no small thing. It was half of who his wife was and who he married. It's heartbreaking that they loved each other as much as ever, but it's realistic that the foundation of trust is just as important, if more so, than love for a healthy and lasting relationship.

[@davidbobowski3604]

So, she would still be Headmistress in 2020? That's so cool!

[@buddyobbard2176]

She is the headmistress in the cursed child. Ron, Hermione, and Harry as 40 year olds show up in her fireplace.

[@stephanritter6208]

@@buddyobbard2176 thats stange cuz that in film its longbotom

[@bgt2848]

Depending on if she retired once both the Potter and weasley children were there at the same time

[@jf175]

@@stephanritter6208 there isn’t a movie of Cursed child

[@stephanritter6208]

@@jf175 ik but there is few mins of it in deathly halows 2

[@MaegnasMw]

You failed to mention a "brush" she had with some Death Eaters, around year 5 or maybe 6 (year 1 is 1991, Harry's first years at school). She was hit by FOUR Stupefies in the chest to be put down, recovered quite quickly (for a woman not exactly young, that is) and resumed her duties. She is BAD-ASS, if ever there was one!

[@Teedeedubbelu]

if you mean what i think you mean this was in book 5, when Umbridge and the aurors went to Hagrids cabin.

[@MaegnasMw]

@@Teedeedubbelu that is exactly what I was talking about, thank you!!

[@BlackangelKatakuri]

@@Teedeedubbelu A scene I wish had been in the books among other scenes

[@RifterBlade]

@@BlackangelKatakuri I think you mean in the movies? And yes, all too often, I felt their effects budget was spent on the wrong scenes and characters.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

she’s in her early 50s in the books so getting hit that much especially as her body is used to dueling and transforming isn’t a surprise. in the Fantastic Beasts movie series she’s a lot older so it seems worse

[@44EricRH44]

"Have a biscuit, Potter." I remember reading that for the first time when I was around 9 years old and loving Minerva even more x3

[@reginaphalange8879]

No one could have done this better than Maggie Smith. Change my mind.

[@lukeklo]

No i dont think i will

[@kageknightttv3597]

I totally agree since she was dealing with illness through movies 5, 6, 7 and 8 the whole time but you'd never know it by her flawless performance.

[@flo1202xyz]

No why

[@romina2185]

@@lukeklo I GOT that reference

[@yomommasofatthanoshadtosna3479]

I can't. Because even though a little old for the role, Dame Maggie Smith nailed the performance and everything...

[@mothertoanangelbaby3096]

This actress is great, because when she was filming Harry Potter. She was fighting breast cancer too.

[@caitlynmeadors4170]

Minerva McGonagall is an absolute queen and is my inspiration in life, not only that but so is her actor, Maggie Smith, who suffered from cancer during the filming of one of the movies and STILL kept going

[@jessewehner7564]

One of my favorite characters. Minerva was badass man. And Maggy smith did her justice. In my opinion Maggi Smith and Alan Rickman were the actors who did their characters the most justice

[@makeupbymeg8082]

Rest in peace Professor McGonagall!! You will be missed very much!!

[@alanaalbarado2357]

I’m a little older than the “normal” fan age of Harry Potter but being bored with heightened anxiety during the pandemic I decided to see what Harry Potter was all about and so the adventure began! I fell in absolute love inside the magical world bc it was an amazing place for my mind to get away from the chaos our world was in. I’ve watched each movie many times and have started on the first book in audio. I love these characters and their backstories, thank you for creating this channel to share your findings and thoughts on them! ♥️💕♥️ 💕♥️

[@sparksfly5877]

That’s lovely

[@supreme5998]

People who grew up with Harry Potter are well into their 30’s so age is of no consequence. It will be a tale for the ages and probably outlive us all.

[@TheWeebIdiot]

There’s no age limit

[@teresamckeown5594]

I started reading Harry Potter when my son (now 35 was in 5th grade). I had to read whatever the read for school to check to make sure he really read the book. I fell in love with Harry and his friends and we all looked forward to a new book and then the movies. Never too old for Harry!

[@KaCaCC]

u're not old u're just late🙂

[@KillerZxAce]

Make a video about the other schools. I’d love to see more about them.

[@tielphinstone3556]

Yes I wanna knoe more about Koldovstoretz, Uagadou, Beauxbaton, Durmstrang, Ilvermony, Castelobruxo and an Australian one was mentioned in a twitter tweet

[@hermitthefrog5976]

I recommended Harry Potter Folkure they made videos on that :)

[@ADeeSHUPA]

@@hermitthefrog5976 uP

[@hermitthefrog5976]

@@ADeeSHUPA?

[@BEMSmarky]

I prefer Ravenclaw.....

[@lexilovesjesus9129]

Wow! I love Mcgonagall even more now! It shocked me a bit that she married her old boss, you didn't mention they dated or anything so it's odd he proposed randomly and eventually she actually said yes

[@yomommasofatthanoshadtosna3479]

I think they did date? Not sure about it though. Yeah, it was a bit shocking to hear that she married her boss, and it was heartbreaking to hear that he died shortly after. I think she was a savage teacher, especially after the order of the Phoenix, when she stood up to Umbridge, or "have a biscuit Potter", or when she told Peeves that the chandelier unscrews the other way 😂

[@slipknot95maggot]

Queen Suuuuuuuuuper random side note, though.......?: One of my grandmothers looks SOOO much like Maggie as Minerva. We were at some Harry Potter "town" thing once, where they turned a shopping center type thing into a facsimile of the Wizarding world, with shops from the movies and they painted a train, etc etc etc, you get the point. Three of us were kids including me so of course we were playing along; so, as we were all FULLY aware of the almost staggering resemblance, my grandmother dressed up more or less like McGonagall; black robe, nice big pointy hat, etc...... There was no way we could let her not do it. If I remember my aunt and uncle bought her the cloths and didn't give her a choice; she already knew what was up so she didn't even hesitate XD Anyway, at one point we're walking between some of the stores, and some little kid comes walking sheepishly up to my grandma and asks for a picture with her XD He was convinced she was the equivalent of the Mickey Mouse mascots at Disney, or Santa at the mall XD Some random dude right now has a picture of himself as a kid standing next to my grandma, all because she just looks SO MUCH like Maggie as Minerva XDDD And wouldn't you know it, my grandma is also a queen Real talk though, Minerva forever. The queen

[@slipknot95maggot]

On the off chance that kid is reading this (I know, no chance), just know you made our day XDDD arguably the highlight of the entire day

[@slipknot95maggot]

I was a book reader so when the movies came out I was the annoying little kid walking out of the first movie shouting "BUT WHERE WAS THE POTIONS TEST!?!??!&#%$^78" - but I must admit, there was NO better way for them to make me IMMEDIATELY love, and respect the authority of, this character they're introducing as the McGonagall I know, than to make her look like my grandmother XDDDD Obviously by now I know Maggie as much more than some random actress who looks like my grandma, but - what a way to start me off with a strong connection XD Sitting in the theater next to my grandma, watching basically my grandma on screen, being the queen on screen that she basically already is irl, as a character I already knew and loved in my favorite series Too much

[@yomommasofatthanoshadtosna3479]

This is so wholesome, my grandma kind of looks like her as well!

[@kcsledge95]

My gramma looks kinda like Umbridge ☹️ but my gramma is rlly sweet and spoils me😀

[@yomommasofatthanoshadtosna3479]

@@kcsledge95 nice My grandfather (He's gone now) looked exactly like Dumbledore's description in the books.

[@silentscales8631]

I Always loved the "Have a Biscuit Potter" 🤣

[@minervamcgonagall7253]

thank you so much for creating this! It means a lot to me!

[@caroraven6609]

You deserve this ^.^

[@bbbrucebaker]

you are seen and loved.

[@jenniferwhitehead5418]

Always will love your love your strength and courage for the school and the children in it

[@philbq9566]

I just got ghoosebumps from just thiniking of this epic Hogwarts-Defence-Scene

[@catelyngrace3870]

Same

[@davidbobowski3604]

I've always wanted to use that spell!

[@thegingergyrl455]

One of my favorite characters. Thank you. Well done.

[@OnTheArchipelago]

Yes, she's so sweet

[@ginantsfan5]

" Oh and Potter take Weasley with you he looks far to happy over their."👦⚡🧹🧙‍♂️🏰🌕🦉📖

[@StaciaShumway]

One of my favorites!

[@ronaldtavian2449]

lmfaoo

[@ram2791]

There

[@patriciajrs46]

There is for direction. Their is for possession by persons.

[@bettysgarden]

everyone’s saying minerva is one of their favorite Hogwarts professors, well she’s my absolute favorite HP character🥺 i wish they could’ve included some more scenes from the books like the career advice meeting w harry and umbridge, and the scenes w peeves and her :)) i just love her so much😭

[@firefox7647]

“Maybe ill transfigure one of you into a stopwatch so at least one of you are on time”

[@angelojonathan8381]

It's actually "Perhaps if I were to transfigure Mr. Potter and yourself into a pocket watch , that way one of you might be on time"

[@firefox7647]

Angelo Jonathan oh yeah i forgot, i swear im a potterhead

[@angelojonathan8381]

@@firefox7647 there's no need to swear or anything it's just a mistake everyone does them

[@mandalorianmarauder4749]

Harry: "We got lost."

[@angelojonathan8381]

@@mandalorianmarauder4749 "perhaps a map , I trust you don't need one to find your seats"

[@moonstonepearl21]

Imagine after already being married with a small child ,and your wife's suddenly like, "Oh by the way. I'm magical ,and your kid is too." "Say what now????"

[@_MD_.]

my favorite character, and as soon as I learned her story, many, many years later, tears welled in my eyes, not out of sadness but out of happiness, that it was even greater than I thought :) thx the video you made my day

[@amberadams5793]

The soft way you speak is soothing I almost forgot to pay attention to what you were saying

[@Red_Rebel]

One thing I really love on your videos are the landscapes you put together.

[@thechosenone729]

When somebody says strong-woman this is how i imagine it... strong enough to stay on her own legs and move trough the hardship even if you lose people around you. She truly is one of the best characters in HP.

[@derekwarr8567]

Maggie Smith is an amazing actress, I can't see anyone else in the role

[@maureenmango1]

Knowing Minerva's background really pulls at your heartstrings. One scene in the movie that gets me every time is when Albus dies, leaving everyone behind. Minerva not only had to take over the whole Battle of Hogwarts immediately, but she had to keep herself together after loosing the one person she truly had left.

[@BrandyDerg]

Have a biscuit, Potter

[@vitiahalliwell]

Minerva McGonagall will always be my favorite character from Harry Potter and The Wizarding World in general not only because she is portrayed by the ONE and ONLY Maggie Smith but because she could be sarcastic and sassy in a classy way and even though she was strict with her students when needed she truly cared for them as if they were her own even going so far as getting to know them on a personal level an example is in the battle of Hogwarts where she says Minerva McGonagall: "Why don't you confer with Mr. Finnigan? As I recall, he has a particular proclivity for pyrotechnics." only a teacher who cared for her students and got to know them would remember such a thing.

[@doujinloverXD]

I played Higwarts Mystery teacher appreciation event in which my character investigated Minerva, got to know her, played chess with her and while she kept her many heartbreaks hidden what I did gather was a sense of loneliness and loss from her, now I know she had lost more then I ever imagined.

[@HouseofSpells]

Minerva is one of my favorite professors in Hogwarts in the Harry Potter franchise.

[@BenScrimgeour]

Such a brilliant video. there has been quite a lot I didn't know about Professor McGonagall. She's been though that most can't even imagine

[@BlackangelKatakuri]

Dumbledore too . Interesting how both seem so cheerful

[@oriesheppard8498]

McGonagall is one of my favorite characters in the entire series. Funnily enough before the movies were ever made, as a kid I’d watched the movie “sister act” and Maggie Smiths character in that is also really strict, so child version of me started picturing her as McGonagall, so I was thrilled when she was cast. I’d love a series about a new cast of characters attending hogwarts with her as headmistress. I feel she’d be a better head than Dumbledore cuz she wouldn’t have so many other duties like him, and wouldn’t compromise her morals and condemn a child to a decade of abuse “for the greater good”

[@quinto190]

Love this! Really thorough research.

[@sethcarlow8363]

Head of Gryffindor . in some of the Fanfiction that i would like to read that she is taking care of Baby Harry Potter at Hogwarts, in till he is age 11 when he comes to Hogwarts.

[@TheVergile]

this always struck me as odd. There is no way - with this many muggle/wizard pairs (not just in modern times, but even going back through history) that there is no precedent for how to tell your future spouse you are magical without breaking the law. In any realistic scenario there would be something like: “if you are engaged you can tell. if the muggle does not accept it you need to obliviate and leave” or something like that. Wizards do all kinds of stupid crap to muggles and in the end those muggles get obliviated and the wizard gets a slap on the wrist. We see it a ton of times in the books alone. And rarely anyone ever gets into real trouble over it. Yet we are to believe that there is no conceivable way she could have told her future husband without breaking the law to an extend that would end her career?

[@Austin_Wingfield]

I love this channel. I push play and let it roll with my headphones on. Makes me so happy

[@bandotaku]

I'm not completely versed in wizard law, but considering Minerva and Dougal were about to be married, I would think there was an exception to the rule. If they had kids, the secret would be out anyway if they turned out to be magic. So why could she not tell him?

[@xxprologancool3538]

My theory is that the McGonagall in the 1920's is actually Professor McGonagall's grandmother cause wasn't her name Minerva given by her late grandmother?

[@yashish5473]

did they ever mention the name minerva ? couldn't that professor have been one of her relatives with just the surname

[@Jcqes]

It can't be a relative as she gets her name from her Muggle father

[@BlackangelKatakuri]

That would make alot more sense

[@tracymorgan5386]

I know she is a fictional character but I just love and admire her.

[@matthewhiggins3751]

I saw the thumbnail and almost had a bloody heart attack. 2020 better not even think about touching Dame Maggie.

[@r.t.hannah9575]

I would love a multi-season TV show called Minerva! Imagine through every period of her life she remained a steadfast spy for the ministry and it was because of these activities that her muggle love was actually targeted to draw her out. And then years later, she refuses her former boss’s advances for fear he’ll be in danger. Finally she leaves the service to be happy in Hogsmeade, only for her past to catch up with her. Her husband being murdered, the assassination plot covered up as an accidental venomous plant bite. And through her nearly unbroken service to the ministry, and everything she’s sacrificed for it, imagine then that a Dolores Umbridge shows up, an agent of the ministry. And Umbridge tells her in movie 5, “I will not tolerate disloyalty.” Minerva, having sacrificed her heart and life and having been more loyal than anyone else for decades…can do nothing but take a step back in shock and repeat, “disloyalty.”

[@CordeliaDoyle]

McGonagall has always been one of my favorites! This is probably dorkish for me to say but I acquired a MacBook Pro earlier this year and named her Minerva

[@svenlauke1190]

imagine finding out that your wife, loves you so much, that she entirely suppresses her true nature just for you...and then doubting her love for you

[@sirrefice3085]

She deserves her own movie 🎥

[@Lupinemancer87]

"... McGonnagall who was more suited the others..." That is putting it mildly :D

[@diyachakrabartii3762]

Your videos are so informative and fun to watch I’m literally so addicted rn ❤️❤️❤️

[@mariettetc1]

Make her life a movie!

[@patriciajrs46]

I also loved Maggie Smith in The Pride of Miss Jean Brodie. She was great.

[@verycheapmignotta]

amazing video, thank you.

[@evilwarcow]

So, Rubious Hagared became the one to go and tell the future students that they're a witch or wizard. Well, with his track record with Harry, I think he's pretty skilled and fit for the role of performing such a admirable task.

[@yomommasofatthanoshadtosna3479]

No, no, the students get a letter from Hogwarts, but the Dursleys didn't let Harry have his letter, so after many attempts, Dumbledore sent Rubeus Hagrid to pick him up.

[@tommonk7651]

OK, I'm really bothered by something. In Philosopher's Stone the movie, Harry, Ron and Hermione are looking at a trophy case where Harry's dad was shown to have been a Griffindor seeker in I think 1971. This was in response to Hermione saying that Quidditch was in his blood. The name right next to his from 1970, I think, was M. McGonagall. If she started teaching in 1956, that award couldn't have been hers, but who's was it. Uh, I am confused by this, because Minerva would have been much older than about Harry's parents' age. She has some of the best lines in the movies: "Ohhh, well now you know..." "I've always wanted to use that spell."

[@robmcintyre1177]

Her younger brother.

[@tommonk7651]

@@robmcintyre1177 I think even Malcolm would be too old. According to the Wiki, M. G. McGonagall was a Gryffindor student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the early 1970s. They played on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, winning an award for it in 1971, which was displayed at Hogwarts on a plaque that also bore the names of James Potter and R. J. H. King. McGonagall may have been related to Transfiguration teacher Minerva McGonagall. It is possible that M. G. McGonagall is one of her nephews or nieces from her two brothers, Robert Jr or Malcolm.

[@shaymiths]

Maggie Smith did an incredible job. Just like, Robin Williams & Julie Andrews, Maggie Smith will always hold a special place in my childhood.

[@davidaltman3867]

i left feedback on another video that i felt that the mcgonagall in the 2nd fantastic beast movie may not be the same one we know. this is not as impossible as you might think, here in dayton ohio back in the 80`s there was a second dave altman living here, i never met him but he was listed in the phone book. i saw once while getting a libary card that he had a different middle name than i do, and he was (at least as far as i know) no relation to me. also i saw in a 1850 census book that there were two dave altmans living in ohio then, one in lima one in toledo and neither were related to me, (my dads side of the family didnt come to america until the 1890s) also in the 70s 80s and the 2010s i knew three tim johnsons who were not related to each other

[@TheBoss-vs7vs]

I see what you want to say, but The Original Screenplay says that the character we see is a "young Minerva McGonagall". Therefore, it's pretty certain that the Minerva McGonagall we saw in the "Crimes of Grindelwald" was the Minerva McGonagall we all loved in the HP saga. However, it's not a problem. Actually, an adult McGonagall in FB2 doesn't contradict the pre-established canon: with FB in the picture, her birth year can be safely placed in 1887 or in 1888, without any retcon, without same-name relatives and without time-travelling shenanigans. ⤵️ www.reddit.com/r/harrypotter/comments/hqxe6z/jk_rowling_was_never_wrong_about_mcgonagalls/

[@alohomoratarot]

I’ve actually been wondering- considering her relationship with Dumbledore, and her firm discipline as a person, is it possible that she knew about Snape being a double agent?

[@crazybanana5089]

I have a feeling that she does.

[@unculturedg4mer310]

this is definitely one of your better videos

[@isabellabee4497]

Mcgonagal: *hears that harry called umbridge a liar* well done potter have a biscuit u legand :D

[@deborahcox7784]

I love Minerva so much: I want to be just like her!!!!!!

[@OnTheArchipelago]

Yes she's such a nice woman

[@rdvqc]

You can also see her early teaching days in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie".

[@kyleethekelt]

I'd love to know where all this extra info comes from; it' not in the seven books. I've read bits on fan sites but it's really difficult to separate fan fantasy from Rowling's work.

[@celalo0721]

I was wondering the same thing.

[@dicksdrugsanddebutantes9305]

Its from pottermore which i believe is written by jk rowling herself

[@diddl03]

Most of Minervas backstory is from the book _Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies_ . It‘s a book where Rowling published the backstories of some characters like for example Minerva McGonnagal or Dolores Umbridge. She originally planned to include these backstories somewhere in the seven Harry Potter books but then decided not to do so, because there was no appropriate point in the story where she could have integrated the backstories into the plot.

[@callycatgaming]

I wouldn't be surprised if Minerva was head Mistress for the next 100 years XD

[@stuartmcnaughton1495]

Why do people have such an issue with the apparent anomalies with McGonagall's age? You did a video about how Hermiome was slightly older than her official age because of the hours she spent using the time turner. So McGonagall must be a lot older than her official age because of the years she spent teaching at Hogwarts in the 1920s, 30s and 40s in the FB series. We have yet to see how she traveled so far back in time, but she is an accomplished witch and would only have traveled back in time if Dumbledore had sent her on the mission.

[@TheBoss-vs7vs]

First of all, there aren't anomalies with McGonagall's age. An adult McGonagall in FB2 doesn't contradict the pre-established canon: with the Fantastic Beasts sagain the picture, her birth year can be safely placed in 1887 or in 1888, without any retcon or anomaly or Time-Turner. www.reddit.com/r/harrypotter/comments/hqxe6z/jk_rowling_was_never_wrong_about_mcgonagalls/ Second of all, within all the instances in which we see McGonagall working at Hogwarts in FB2, she's never teaching. Third of all, if we go for the Time-Turner route, we should remember that Time-Turner (even if you somehow bypass the 5 hours limit) generate closed loops. And so, a mission for changing the past would be impossible.

[@BlackangelKatakuri]

@@TheBoss-vs7vs But why should a movie be canon when the franchise started as books?

[@TheBoss-vs7vs]

@@BlackangelKatakuri There's a crucial distinction that must be noted: unlike the 8 HP movies, the movies of the Fantastic Beasts saga are directly written by JK Rowling. Within FB (and unlike the Cursed Child), it's Rowling that literally writes the screenplays. And therefore it's no surprise the 8 HP movies deviate from the canon. The FB saga instead, doesn't break the canon. At least not yet. So, you have that the FB saga doesn't contradict the pre-established canon and you have that Rowling directly wrote both the plot and the actual screenplay. That's why FB is canon.

[@astixrose3388]

I love your content bro, please don’t give up the grind.

[@ta5ty_icecream707]

Great job keep up the good work!

[@sketchtheparadigmyork1217]

I can relate to her tragic love story :( one of my favorite characters

[@patriciajrs46]

This is wonderful. Who authorized Pottermore? At any rate, I think it's great. There was a lot of new information for me. Thanks.

[@TraceyMak1]

I LOVE THIS EXPLANATION!

[@debralavoie9095]

I need to read those other books! Never knew she was married, course not done reading the series. Great video.

[@astrisperspecto4130]

Minerva went thorough this hardships and stayed kind and warm. What's your excuse, Snape?

[@MrAlvinSinfulSong]

He's acting as a spy, best to stay in character

[@cfrench61995]

My favorite moment in the books was left out of the movies, it came in book 7, when Harry and Luna had infiltrated Ravenclaw tower, and had been caught by the Caro siblings. The twins had said that they would blame the accidental calling of Lord Voldemort on the kids upstairs, and Minerva immediately said that she would not allow them to blame their idiocy on the children of Hogwarts at this the brother spit on her and Harry, who is under the invisibility cloak, whipped it off and did the torture curse on him. When Minerva said he shouldn’t have done that he responded, but he spat at you! A few minutes later, when they were rallying, all of the teachers and students of Hogwarts Slughorn was saying that they should rethink it, because Voldemort was bound to get in, Minerva said I expect you with your students in the hall in 20 minutes. If you want to leave with them you can, but if any of you take up arms against us, then Horace, we duel to kill. heHe gasped in shock, but she responded It is time that Slytherin house decided upon where it’s loyalty lie

[@lindajones8895]

Thank you for sharing

[@J9harrison]

Best video! Did not know any history of her background.

[@majorasmask5523]

I thought I couldn’t respect her any more than I already did, and then I learned she was Scottish. I (American) have a lot of love for the Scots, and hope to visit.

[@CorpseBride64]

My daughter had her honeymoon there. She said it is gorgeous, everything lush & green.

[@axstria1998]

Please do the same with Pomona Sprout!

[@sandilo60]

LOVE this ❤

[@ItsMuffinTurtle]

Such a good video, as usual

[@sarahleyva1552]

hands down favorite character. always.

[@arnobattaglia5635]

Love your videos!

[@Txepsiyu]

McGonagall needs a Wizarding World movie of her own.

[@zachwoolley6104]

Please make more of these longform videos about other characters I find this kind of information fascinating about the books I love so much

[@rotorheadv8]

Some slight inconsistencies between the books and the movie. In “The Order of the Phoenix” McGonagall tells Umbridge she has been at the school less than 40 years. That would put her at Hogwarts not until the 1950s.

[@OscarGonzoJim]

she really is one of the best characters in hp

[@yvonnekershner4504]

I like your videos, but I have a hearing deficit and the music is too loud at times 😔

[@brendabiery324]

Loved it.

[@PaNDaSNiP3R]

I wish the sorting hat sang the song in the movies

[@entertainmentwheel692]

I believer Minerva is currently no longer the headmistress of Hogwarts as mentioned in the quote by Rowling "Nineteen years after the Battle of Hogwarts, the school for witchcraft and wizardry is led by an entirely new headmaster. McGonagall was really getting on a bit." Professor Marazion succeeded Minerva McGonagall in the post of Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This individual became Headmaster or Headmistress some time between 2008 and 2017 after Minerva McGonagall went into retirement as she was "getting on a bit". And then after a short term McGonagall has either returned as headmistress or is enjoying retired life.....

[@tazlynntriesthings2664]

I love her so much I'm literally crying watching this entire video

[@travelingisfun8828]

One of my favorite professors

[@yardy876jam8]

Maybe you have covered this topic before , still currently binge watching all your videos but is there any reason why i get a feeling that half blood wizards and witches tend to be overall stronger than most pure bloods? Is there any reasoning behind it? Could be just me though lol

[@olesuhr727]

Pure bloods are inbred, and thus not as strong as half bloods. Don't mess with nature!

[@nomnomfpv3136]

Ole Hansen The noble house of Black was pure, and they had Sirius who was strong for his beliefs against his family’s nature and stood for what he knew was right. As well as Regulus who went down a different path at first, but was more strong in character than many others in my opinion. Also I think the only case you can make for pure blood= incest= weakness could be the Gaunt’s.

[@olesuhr727]

@@nomnomfpv3136 Whether we are talking about Wizards, "muggles" or any other living being, inbreeding is known to cause many different problems, both physical and mental. My point was that pure bloods had no reason to believe or claim that they were better than other wizards, while half bloods would avoid that, just as history has shown us that royalty has been known to literally destroy their own bloodlines by insisting on inbreeding. As for the Noble House of Black, Sirius' cousin Bellatrix shows clear signs of mental instability that could have been caused by inbreeding.

[@melissacastle5172]

Thanks!

[@georgesafford8663]

AWESOME!

[@lcb2016bn]

i love professor mcgonagall! she's my favorite hogwarts teacher ❤️❤️❤️