polychromatic application
[series]: Harry Potter
[character]: Minerva McGonagall
[character history / background]: "...four Stunners straight in the chest and she's not exactly young, is she?"
[character abilities]: Use of magic, given the rules of the Harry Potter universe. Registered Animagus and she has/will have served as Transfiguration professor and head of the department for over 50 years. To say that she has a command over the subject is something of an understatement.
[character personality]:
Minerva is often unyielding when it comes to the rules. Rules exist for a reason and everyone should abide by them. Even if her own students misstep, Minerva has no problem removing points from her own house in punishment - or kicking them out of her class.
However, as strict as she can be, McGonagall shows soft spots for students here and there. These especially occur in favor of Harry Potter, at times when danger is greatest. Minerva's not made of stone and it seems she will bend for others if not herself. The wiki calls her a strict disciplinarian but this is not a full picture: she's also got a sense of when it's appropriate to soften up and choose her battles. In addition, she's got a looser side: enjoying Quidditch, school dances and (gasp!) dry wit here and there. But seriously, don't mess with Minerva's Quidditch. Her competitive spirit is strong enough to get her to exempt Harry from punishment in order to make him Gryffindor's new seeker. And get him a broom. And urge the Gryffindor team to beat the straw off of Slytherin.
She has something of a penchant for defending the underdog, it seems. Notable mentions are Harry Potter, Sybil Trelawny and Rubeus Hagrid. At times, she's also seen defending Neville Longbottom and even Draco Malfoy (at times when he could be categorized as underdog, when Harry accuses him of being the one having sent the necklace without proof, for example) -- she cannot abide accusing people of wrongdoing or punishing them without evidence of their deserving it.
When it comes to Harry, Minerva's soft spot is somewhat only yielding to the point of wanting to help him be strong enough to endure his fame and his fate in conjunction with Voldemort. It makes her feel bad to let him live with the Dursleys, yes, but it's also the safest course of action for him. Where Dumbledore is less constantly hands on, McGonagall seems to be in a better position as his Head of House to be a little more open with him (probably also partially in addition to not always knowing the gritty details to Dumbledore's plans). In a similar manner, many of her opinions and views on things seem fairly influenced by the way Dumbledore feels about them, but she has no problem being vocal when she disagrees with a course of action he's decided on.
As she is with regard to teaching, Minerva feels strongly about how magic is used, too. There are times and places and reasons for it to be used and the same for when it shouldn't. It is not simply a toy to make life easier but a gift and a responsibility that requires respect and knowledge for proper use. The rules in place protecting them from the Muggle world are not to be bent for any reason; when she has to choose between the man she loves and the world of magic, there's no choice that includes trying to blend them. She must choose either one or the other.
A very decisive woman, Minerva is strong-willed and can be a little scary. She feels very strongly about what is right and what is wrong. This probably accounts for her short time with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but that she left to teach informs a little more on her matronly spirit. Minerva's severe, strict exterior envelops a very matronly center that she does not often express openly. She isn't so much mother hen as mama bear - and not only to her Gryffindor students, but to anyone she befriends or respects. She will chide one instant and coddle the very next. Her loyalty to her students extends to her desire to stay at Hogwarts while Snape is headmaster in order to protect them as best she can from the Carrows.
Minerva has something of a temper that she'll often try to suppress with a steely demeanor and snarky words. She makes use of this during Dolores Umbridge's tenure at Hogwarts, varying between snide comments, open contempt and outright rage as events escalate. It's very clear that her anger with Umbridge outweighs her distaste for Professor Trelawny and the art of Divination when she takes Trelawny's side against Umbridge after the former is fired. In general, Minerva lets you know where you stand with her almost immediately -- she is not interested in wasting time by hiding her feelings about a person. However, it never comes down to personal insults. You simply know that Minerva is not you're biggest fan and if you decide to push it she may tell you so outright but usually that is that.
[point in timeline you're picking your character from]: Post-series.
[journal post]:
[ Oh, look. The Welcome Center. A severe-looking woman peruses the pamphlets while some other random young man helps her. ]
If you expect that I will willingly use-- [ The device broadcasts her surroundings upside-down now, as Minerva holds it before her rahter gingerly between two fingers. ] this, you'll find yourself sorely mistaken. It's-- it's-- crude and invasive. I'd be very grateful to find where I might return mine, thank you.
[ Someone tells her the bad news. ]
I wouldn't be so sure about that...
[third person / log sample]:
There are days, like this one, that Minerva finds it rather difficult to pull herself from cloudy thoughts of people long gone. When she finds herself walking back through that night of You-Know-- oh, Voldemort's demise: the true one, and fighting between the joy and the sorrow. Fortunately, as headmistress, there are plenty of distractions from thoughts like these.
"Miss Foster, while I understand your need for teenage rebellion and expression," she chides, coming out from behind her desk, "I must ask: Do you also feel the need to graffiti the bathroom in your own home?" In some ways, the groan and eye roll that she receives in return are welcome; a distraction from the other solemn thoughts bouncing around in her head. The girl finally comes out with a no, and Minerva nods.
"Well, for the time that you are here, Hogwarts serves as your home. You are expected to treat it as such. You will clean off your handiwork, and help Mr. Filch clean the ladies' lavatories for two weeks." Minerva barely notices the students' dismissal as she takes her place at the desk again. She must admit that she would rather suffer the days of either Potter boy, really. At least their indiscretions were somewhat interesting. Harry, of course, usually getting into trouble by trying to avoid it and James, well. He did a lot of growing up at Hogwarts, didn't he? That's what they said about the troublemakers who ended up turning out much better than they came in. The ones who grew up.
She glances up at the portrait of Albus who looks, oh, well he's always genial, isn't he? Minerva can't help but smile in return when he simply nods to her. Sometimes it's too much, bringing back all sorts of bittersweet memories of loss and victory. The portrait next to him, however, raises more complicated emotions and reactions that she's not quite ever certain how to deal with. On a professional level, she and Severus would always be on very good terms. But there is a disconnect in her mind, about what supposedly he had done for them. Minerva is not a stupid person but she knows her own strengths and weaknesses. She lacked not cunning nor ability, but perhaps it was less heart or strength that meant she couldn't fully comprehend Severus' actions.
Oh, on a normal day she'd hardly let her mind drift this far. A sip of tea does enough to let her remove herself from being so entirely enraptured by the things she isn't able to change anyway. She knows better, she knows to look forward to the things they have retained; the world they preserved for her former students and the ones she might see in the future. Would she survive to watch another set of Potter eyes take in the magic of Hogwarts?
"Ah, Mr. Campbell. I thought it had been too long since you've graced my office." Minerva is glad that she doesn't have a chance to continue to ponder, as another guilty student edges his way into the office. "Will we be banning any Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products this month, then...?"
[character]: Minerva McGonagall
[character history / background]: "...four Stunners straight in the chest and she's not exactly young, is she?"
[character abilities]: Use of magic, given the rules of the Harry Potter universe. Registered Animagus and she has/will have served as Transfiguration professor and head of the department for over 50 years. To say that she has a command over the subject is something of an understatement.
[character personality]:
Minerva is often unyielding when it comes to the rules. Rules exist for a reason and everyone should abide by them. Even if her own students misstep, Minerva has no problem removing points from her own house in punishment - or kicking them out of her class.
However, as strict as she can be, McGonagall shows soft spots for students here and there. These especially occur in favor of Harry Potter, at times when danger is greatest. Minerva's not made of stone and it seems she will bend for others if not herself. The wiki calls her a strict disciplinarian but this is not a full picture: she's also got a sense of when it's appropriate to soften up and choose her battles. In addition, she's got a looser side: enjoying Quidditch, school dances and (gasp!) dry wit here and there. But seriously, don't mess with Minerva's Quidditch. Her competitive spirit is strong enough to get her to exempt Harry from punishment in order to make him Gryffindor's new seeker. And get him a broom. And urge the Gryffindor team to beat the straw off of Slytherin.
She has something of a penchant for defending the underdog, it seems. Notable mentions are Harry Potter, Sybil Trelawny and Rubeus Hagrid. At times, she's also seen defending Neville Longbottom and even Draco Malfoy (at times when he could be categorized as underdog, when Harry accuses him of being the one having sent the necklace without proof, for example) -- she cannot abide accusing people of wrongdoing or punishing them without evidence of their deserving it.
When it comes to Harry, Minerva's soft spot is somewhat only yielding to the point of wanting to help him be strong enough to endure his fame and his fate in conjunction with Voldemort. It makes her feel bad to let him live with the Dursleys, yes, but it's also the safest course of action for him. Where Dumbledore is less constantly hands on, McGonagall seems to be in a better position as his Head of House to be a little more open with him (probably also partially in addition to not always knowing the gritty details to Dumbledore's plans). In a similar manner, many of her opinions and views on things seem fairly influenced by the way Dumbledore feels about them, but she has no problem being vocal when she disagrees with a course of action he's decided on.
As she is with regard to teaching, Minerva feels strongly about how magic is used, too. There are times and places and reasons for it to be used and the same for when it shouldn't. It is not simply a toy to make life easier but a gift and a responsibility that requires respect and knowledge for proper use. The rules in place protecting them from the Muggle world are not to be bent for any reason; when she has to choose between the man she loves and the world of magic, there's no choice that includes trying to blend them. She must choose either one or the other.
A very decisive woman, Minerva is strong-willed and can be a little scary. She feels very strongly about what is right and what is wrong. This probably accounts for her short time with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but that she left to teach informs a little more on her matronly spirit. Minerva's severe, strict exterior envelops a very matronly center that she does not often express openly. She isn't so much mother hen as mama bear - and not only to her Gryffindor students, but to anyone she befriends or respects. She will chide one instant and coddle the very next. Her loyalty to her students extends to her desire to stay at Hogwarts while Snape is headmaster in order to protect them as best she can from the Carrows.
Minerva has something of a temper that she'll often try to suppress with a steely demeanor and snarky words. She makes use of this during Dolores Umbridge's tenure at Hogwarts, varying between snide comments, open contempt and outright rage as events escalate. It's very clear that her anger with Umbridge outweighs her distaste for Professor Trelawny and the art of Divination when she takes Trelawny's side against Umbridge after the former is fired. In general, Minerva lets you know where you stand with her almost immediately -- she is not interested in wasting time by hiding her feelings about a person. However, it never comes down to personal insults. You simply know that Minerva is not you're biggest fan and if you decide to push it she may tell you so outright but usually that is that.
[point in timeline you're picking your character from]: Post-series.
[journal post]:
[ Oh, look. The Welcome Center. A severe-looking woman peruses the pamphlets while some other random young man helps her. ]
If you expect that I will willingly use-- [ The device broadcasts her surroundings upside-down now, as Minerva holds it before her rahter gingerly between two fingers. ] this, you'll find yourself sorely mistaken. It's-- it's-- crude and invasive. I'd be very grateful to find where I might return mine, thank you.
[ Someone tells her the bad news. ]
I wouldn't be so sure about that...
[third person / log sample]:
There are days, like this one, that Minerva finds it rather difficult to pull herself from cloudy thoughts of people long gone. When she finds herself walking back through that night of You-Know-- oh, Voldemort's demise: the true one, and fighting between the joy and the sorrow. Fortunately, as headmistress, there are plenty of distractions from thoughts like these.
"Miss Foster, while I understand your need for teenage rebellion and expression," she chides, coming out from behind her desk, "I must ask: Do you also feel the need to graffiti the bathroom in your own home?" In some ways, the groan and eye roll that she receives in return are welcome; a distraction from the other solemn thoughts bouncing around in her head. The girl finally comes out with a no, and Minerva nods.
"Well, for the time that you are here, Hogwarts serves as your home. You are expected to treat it as such. You will clean off your handiwork, and help Mr. Filch clean the ladies' lavatories for two weeks." Minerva barely notices the students' dismissal as she takes her place at the desk again. She must admit that she would rather suffer the days of either Potter boy, really. At least their indiscretions were somewhat interesting. Harry, of course, usually getting into trouble by trying to avoid it and James, well. He did a lot of growing up at Hogwarts, didn't he? That's what they said about the troublemakers who ended up turning out much better than they came in. The ones who grew up.
She glances up at the portrait of Albus who looks, oh, well he's always genial, isn't he? Minerva can't help but smile in return when he simply nods to her. Sometimes it's too much, bringing back all sorts of bittersweet memories of loss and victory. The portrait next to him, however, raises more complicated emotions and reactions that she's not quite ever certain how to deal with. On a professional level, she and Severus would always be on very good terms. But there is a disconnect in her mind, about what supposedly he had done for them. Minerva is not a stupid person but she knows her own strengths and weaknesses. She lacked not cunning nor ability, but perhaps it was less heart or strength that meant she couldn't fully comprehend Severus' actions.
Oh, on a normal day she'd hardly let her mind drift this far. A sip of tea does enough to let her remove herself from being so entirely enraptured by the things she isn't able to change anyway. She knows better, she knows to look forward to the things they have retained; the world they preserved for her former students and the ones she might see in the future. Would she survive to watch another set of Potter eyes take in the magic of Hogwarts?
"Ah, Mr. Campbell. I thought it had been too long since you've graced my office." Minerva is glad that she doesn't have a chance to continue to ponder, as another guilty student edges his way into the office. "Will we be banning any Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products this month, then...?"