Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House, is one of the most formidable and respected figures at Hogwarts. A strict disciplinarian with a sharp tongue and a no-nonsense demeanor, she is also a profoundly loyal protector of her students and a steadfast ally of Albus Dumbledore. Throughout the tumultuous events of the year, she is a pillar of order and authority, but the murder of Dumbledore forces her into a new, painful role as the school's leader in its darkest hour.

Role and Authority

McGonagall is the embodiment of Hogwarts' institutional authority. She is responsible for distributing class schedules, confirming that students have achieved the necessary O.W.L. grades to continue with their chosen N.E.W.T.s, and she is the one who informs Harry that he can proceed with Potions after all, as Professor Slughorn is "perfectly happy to accept N.E.W.T. students with 'Exceeds Expectations' at O.W.L." She is also the arbiter of discipline, and when Harry is caught by Snape after the Sectumsempra incident, it is McGonagall who tells him he is "lucky not to have been expelled" and that she supports Snape's punishment of detention every Saturday until the end of term. Her authority is not merely bureaucratic; she is a powerful witch who does not hesitate to act. During the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, she is seen battling a Death Eater, shouting, "Take that!" as she drives Alecto Carrow away. She also presides over the Apparition lessons, barking at Malfoy to "be quiet and pay attention!" when he disrupts the instructor.

Loyalty and Grief

McGonagall's loyalty to Dumbledore is absolute, and his death shatters her composure. When Harry tells her that Snape killed Dumbledore, she "stared at him for a moment, then swayed alarmingly" and had to be caught by Madam Pomfrey. She falls into a chair, repeating, "Snape… We all wondered… but he trusted… always… Snape… I can't believe it…" She later admits, "I always thought Dumbledore must know something about Snape that we didn't…" and reveals that Dumbledore had told her "explicitly that Snape's repentance was absolutely genuine — Wouldn't hear a word against him!" Her grief is compounded by a sense of guilt, as she confesses, "This is all my fault… I sent Filius to fetch Snape tonight, I actually sent for him to come and help us!" She believes that by alerting Snape to the attack, she inadvertently enabled him to join the Death Eaters.

Leadership After Dumbledore

In the immediate aftermath of Dumbledore's death, McGonagall steps into the role of Headmistress. She summons the Heads of Houses to Dumbledore's office — now hers — to discuss the future of the school. She is the one who must face the Minister of Magic and the delegation from the Ministry. She argues for the school to remain open, stating, "I am not convinced that the school should reopen next year. The death of the headmaster at the hands of one of our colleagues is a terrible stain upon Hogwarts's history. It is horrible." However, she listens to the other teachers, including Professor Sprout, who insists that "if a single pupil wants to come, then the school ought to remain open for that pupil." McGonagall ultimately agrees to consult the governors, but she also takes charge of the practical arrangements, discussing whether to send students home early and how to handle Dumbledore's funeral. She insists on consulting Hagrid, saying, "Professor Dumbledore always valued your views, and so do I."

The Funeral and Final Farewell

McGonagall organizes Dumbledore's funeral with solemn dignity. She leads the Gryffindors out to the lakeside, where hundreds of chairs have been set up. She sits in the front row with Rufus Scrimgeour, looking "grave and dignified." After the ceremony, she is seen dabbing at the corners of her leaking eyes with a tartan-edged handkerchief. In the final moments of the book, she is the one who must answer the question of whether Hogwarts will close, and she is the one who must say goodbye to Harry, who has decided not to return. Her final act in the narrative is to stand as the head of a school that has lost its greatest protector, embodying the resilience and continuity that Dumbledore himself would have wanted.