Badass Witch

Played by Dame Maggie Smith (link)
DESCRIPTION:Minerva McGonagall is a tartan-clad paragon of badassery. Not a small woman, she cuts a formidable figure sweeping through the halls of Hogwarts (and, formerly, at the head of a Transfiguration classroom). She dresses consistently in square spectacles, witches' robes of various emerald green (or tartan) patterns, occasionally accessorized with a witches' hat - for McGonagall looks as though she was born to be a witch. Her appearance is often rather stern, and she does not look like someone who you would like to cross - when she is happy or relaxed, it changes her demeanour entirely. At 68, she is incredibly spry, and is still quick to spring to action, be it Dueling, disciplining, or somewhere in between.



POSITIVE TRAITS: Brilliant, brave, will take none of your nonsense, loyal, fair-minded, strong moral compass, an iron composure and will to match, can be very warm and supportive when the occasion warrants, does care deeply about her students, family and friends, devoted, talented - very powerful witch, resilient and tough (in more ways than one!)
NEGATIVE TRAITS: Can have a wee bit of a temper, strict, not very open to others, can be a bit intimidating, slightly unforgiving, does not suffer fools or those she deems to be fools lightly, used to having her way, does not like sass or back-chat
LIKES: Tartan, cats, needlework, transfiguration, biscuits, Peace and Quiet at Hogwarts thank you, Scotland, walks, brisk air, cups of tea, surprising people with her humor, puzzles
DISLIKES: Trouble, corruption, people attacking Hogwarts, injustice, idiocy, pretentiousness, people who beat her teams (the Montrose Magpies and the Gryffindor team) at Quidditch
HOBBIES: Being fabulous, cross-stitching and quilting, Transfiguration (writing articles, editing articles, studying it), academia, Quidditch (mainly spectating now, though she used to be a good player in her school days!), guiding students, and reading.
GENERAL PERSONALITY:
Minerva McGonagall has always been fantastic. Brilliant and hard-working, with a drive to succeed and a thirst for knowledge, she started to make her mark on the world from a young age. It is hard to imagine a much younger McGonagall, as she seems to have grown into herself very nicely, as if this is the person she was always supposed to be. Carrying herself with an air of calm competence, Minerva earns the respect of many of those around her, from her students to her friends. Her reserved and often stern exterior is belied by a warm heart, a fierce streak of loyalty and bravery, and a temper that is rather emphatic when roused (You do not want to be the one to rouse it!!). Capable of both great love and great fury, she is a formidable personage to behold in any state. Though she does have her flaws, such as a tendency to put faith in those she respects and admires and to dismiss fields she does not value (e.g. Divination), overall Minerva McGonagall is a person to look up to - and hope is on your side.



Parents:Robert McGonagall & Isobel Ross
Siblings:Malcom McGonagall, Robert McGonagall Jr. (both younger)
Partner:Elphinstone Urquart (deceased)
Children:None
Other Family:Nieces and nephews - and Grand-nieces and -nephews - via her brothers.

Character History:

Minerva was born an already formidable talent. From birth her magic manifested through a range of things, such as controlling the family cat and Summoning things to her crib. Her mother, who had not told Minerva's Muggle father about her magic, was forced to explain. The family managed to stay together, and two sons followed Minerva later on.

A 5.5 minute hatstall between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, Minerva was eventually put into Gryffindor, where she thrived. She had an impressive record - Prefect, Head Girl, and Os in every single subject, as well as a Beater on the Quidditch team. (Her experience with Slytherin fouls, leading to broken ribs, is perhaps what makes her such an avid supporter of the Gryffindor team...) She also, with the help of Professor Albus Dumbledore, became a registered Animagus - a silver tabby cat.

After graduating Hogwarts, she accepted a position at the Ministry of Magic. The summer prior to taking that position, she met and fell in love with a Muggle farmer, Dougal McGregor, and had a whirlwind romance. He proposed late that summer, standing in a ploughed field, and she accepted - only to turn him down the next day once she realized that she was setting herself up for the same situation her mother was in, limiting her magic and career for a Muggle life. It was with great effort and sadness that she rejected him and moved to London to work for the Ministry.

Discovering after a few years that the Ministry was not the career she wanted, Minerva returned to Hogwarts to teach, under the tutelage of Albus Dumbledore once more. Eventually, she became head of the Transfiguration department, as well as Head of Gryffindor house and the Deputy Headmistress - as well as joining the Order. She was a talented and respected teacher, though strict. She kept in contact with her former boss, Elphinstone Urquart, for some time. He was deeply in love with her, and continually proposed, which she continued to decline (throughout the wizarding war, whilst she was busy with the Order of the Pheonix...) until after Dougal McGregor passed away, just after the first fall of Voldemort. They bought a cottage in Hogsmeade to live in, though their happiness was unfortunately short-lived: Elphinstone died of a Venomous Tentacula bite three years after their marriage.

Moving back into Hogwarts, McGonagall continued to teach, awe, inspire, and terrify students over the years. Harry Potter joining her House announced a new era for Gryffindor (which she accepted with glee) and for the state of wizardkind (for which she would keep a watchful eye). Though not incredibly emotionally close to Potter and his troublesome trio, McGonagall did her best to guide, assist and protect them throughout their school careers. It may have been a trial, but she survived, always standing by Dumbledore, the school, and the students. Really, if she could weather Umbridge - well, she could weather anything. She witnessed the resurrection of the Order of the Phoenix, the return of Voldemort, the battle of the Astronomy tower, the reign of Snape and the Death Eaters and the battle of Hogwarts - doing her utmost to keep the school and the students whole and safe.

The Battle of Hogwarts was only the beginning. After assisting with the coup in the Ministry, Minerva returned to Hogwarts. Though no longer an active Order member in terms of missions and such - after all, that's what young people were for - she still assisted where she could, along with dealing with the aftermath at Hogwarts. She successfully rejigged the curriculum on the first year back to allow students to make up their previous year, and the year after that implemented an Inter-house tournament program to do her best to keep the peace. She was also responsible for returning the teaching staff of Hogwarts to its respectable heights, and now spends her days running Hogwarts like well-oiled machine, writing a book on Transfiguration, assisting the Order on occasion and vehemently opposing the Wizengamot's attempts to interfere at Hogwarts.



Wand:Fir & Dragon Heartstring, 9.5 inches
Former House:Gryffindor
Affiliation:Order of the Phoenix
Amortentia: Mornings in Scotland, freshly ploughed dirt, the smell of rain and old stone.
Magical Abilities:Registered Animagus (Silver Tabby Cat) & Patronus (Cat), Wandless magic