Bro I hate fundamentalists and culturally-fundie parents they'll say shit like "spare the rod spoil the child am I right haha yea my parents used to have to beat my ass with a switch almost everyday but I sure did learn my lesson" but like??? no you didn't??? you were hit multiple times for something you very obviously did not, in fact, learn

Like studies about how harmful even lightly spanking children is aside, you're literally contradicting yourself?? Some even admitted they got worse as they got older cause they wanted to see how far they could push their parents before they got punished

And studies not aside, you're gonna get child raising advice from the same book that tells you to stone your wife if her hymen doesn't break on your wedding night instead of the decades of research we have now?? Just say you're a bad parent and move on my guy. Skill issue

Minerva McGonagall

@princessroselyn​ we know she’s amazing

First impression - “this was not a teacher to cross.” McGonagall seemed unfairly exacting and severe when I first met her in Book 1(especially the Mountain Troll scene), which was at odds with how broken up she was in the Boy Who lived. I liked when she brought Harry to Wood instead of punishing him. I remember that being the first time I thought that I could really like McGonagall.

Impression now - I mean. Literally iconic. She’s a strict teacher but a fantastic one that deeply cares about her students without crossing or blurring any lines for them. And I know she loves Harry. And that moment in Deathly Hallows. Where she calls him ‘Harry’ and not ‘Potter.’

Favorite moment - I mean...is there any twist better in a written piece of fiction than “and you shouted at Professor Umbridge?” “Yes.” Professor McGonagall was silent a long moment. “Have a biscuit, Potter.” LIke...I’m 900% sure that long moment was her reveling in the sweet sweet freedom of how annoying Umbridge was.

Idea for a story - Not even a story. Maybe just a series of humor vignettes on how McGonagall acted in cat form when Umbridge was there.

Unpopular opinion - Although McGonagall was always sure not to blur the lines between teacher-student, I really think she needed to be nicer to Harry. To offer him a little more love and attention because she knew he wasn’t a regular student, he was an abused kid without a home. And kids like that deserve a bending of the rules, even if you’re Lawful Good. That’s why I REVEL in the Nimbus 2000. It was never stated who sent it to him. For a long while readers assumed it was Dumbledore. But I know in my heart it was this big quidditch nerd.

Favorite relationship - McGonagall & Dumbledore. McGonagall was always someone who didn’t blur the rules. Even with Dumbledore, her mentor and coworker, she kept it very professional and respectful even though they were also friends, only calling him Albus in the moments when the line blurred into friendship. And Dumbledore always accepted her rules with grace, and never pushed her for more. But I hope they had some really good fireside chats over Old Ogden’s over the years. Especially after the heartbreak both of them had, to be able to cover old griefs with light topics and tired eyes and quiet understanding.

Favorite headcanon - I really, really love the HC where if McGonagall was unable to adopt Harry (and bro I STAN Mama McGonagall thinking furiously to herself ‘well he’ll NEVER turn out quite as cheeky as his father’ and by age five is just cursing the heavens like ‘I don’t know why I thought it could be different’ while Remus comes round for tea) - then I like the one where McGonagall is 900% done with leaving abused kids without any help and goes undercover as Harry’s math teacher or something in elementary school and keeps him back for remedial lessons which make the Dursleys cackle but instead she just has him to the Staff Room for a proper meal with excuses like “Potter you don’t mind if I eat my supper, do you?” “No Ms. McGonagall.” “Well, I’ve brought too much and it’s a crime to let food go to waste. Please have some.” “Oh I-” “You want children to starve?” Harry, seven, meekly: “No Ms. McGonagall.” And just McGonagall teaching him - of course - math in these lessons but also hand-carrying him through his other classes and subjects until Harry is considered insanely bright and quietly teaching him foundational magic skills the entire time to make his life easier at Hogwarts.

Send Me a Character Asks!