Professor McGonagall’s 15 Best Quotes From Harry Potter

In Harry Potter, Professor Minerva McGonagall is the head of Gryffindor House and the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, making her a huge part of Harry’s day-to-day life at Hogwarts. A skilled witch and Transfiguration professor, she’s firm but fair with Harry and his friends as they make mischief at school. Dame Maggie Smith was the perfect Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter because she balanced the strict and severe elements of McGonagall with the warmth and empathy that made her character so complex. She offers Harry emotional support where he would otherwise have none.

Only Smith could have delivered the iconic lines from McGonagall that make her one of the most quotable characters in the series. McGonagall is never afraid to tell someone what she thinks or to make sure Harry Potter characters get what they deserve. Though Harry doesn’t see it, Minerva is a staunch defender of his against Dumbledore and anyone else who she thinks doesn’t have his best interests at heart. McGonagall is a teacher and a maternal figure, which Harry is seeking throughout the series. In the books and movies, McGonagall remains an amazing part of the magical world.

15 “Five Points Will Be Awarded To Each Of You For Sheer Dumb Luck.”

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

When Ron and Harry save Hermione from a grisly fate with the troll in The Sorcerer’s Stone, Professor McGonagall bursts into the girl’s bathroom along with Professor Snape, and Quirrell. The professors are astonished that three eleven-year-olds could have held their own against a fully grown mountain troll, and even though she’s impressed, McGonagall clearly knows they’re not telling the full story. However, it’s impossible not to be impressed that the three children have managed to survive the encounter, let alone take down the troll.

This is a perfect example of McGonagall embodying the traits of Gryffindor while understanding how to be an educator.

It may only be two months into their first year at Hogwarts, but clearly, she’s already realized that there is more to Harry, Ron, and Hermione than meets the eye, even if she doesn’t know what yet. Five points each seems like a pretty low reward for saving someone’s life, especially since she deducted five points from Hermione for going after the troll on her own. This is a perfect example of McGonagall embodying the traits of Gryffindor while understanding how to be an educator. She rewards bravery but makes sure the kids know they shouldn’t have done this.

14 “Why Is It When Something Happens, It Is Always You Three?”

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry, Ron, and Hermione get involved in another dangerous situation when Katie Bell accidentally touches a cursed necklace. Katie survives, but the nature of the necklace and how it came into her possession is still unclear. Though Harry’s certain that Draco is the one who did it, McGonagall isn’t so sure. When she questions them, she’s exasperated and has a resigned curiosity about how the members of her house always wind up in trouble.

After all these years, McGonagall isn’t surprised to see the trio appear during a crisis, but she can’t help voicing her frustration and concern. Of course, she knows that these events often seek Harry out, not the other way around, but she’s also aware that Harry goes looking for trouble. Regardless, the three of them always seem to find themselves in the thick of things, even when they really don’t want to be. It also sets up one of Ron Weasley’s best lines, “Believe me, Professor, I’ve been asking myself the same question for six years.”

13 “Why Don’t You Confer With Mr. Finnigan? As I Recall, He Has A Particular Proclivity For Pyrotechnics.”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)

It’s just like McGonagall to choose her words this carefully, even during a time of crisis. When the Battle of Hogwarts starts, McGonagall is right at Harry’s side and rallies the students and teachers in the fight against Voldemort. In this line, she’s referencing nearly seven movies worth of Seamus Finnigan making things explode by accident. While Fred and George are always planning their next exploding prank, Finnigan’s pyrotechnics are largely the result of him not getting his wandwork right.

This light jab from Professor McGonagall moments before the harrowing Battle of Hogwarts begins is just the encouragement that Seamus and Neville need from their Head of House.

She says this while telling Neville to gather all the students together, especially those who have been part of Harry’s class since his first year at Hogwarts. This light jab from Professor McGonagall moments before the harrowing Battle of Hogwarts begins is just the encouragement that Seamus and Neville need from their Head of House. It also gives Seamus something heroic to do during the battle, since he passes through the battle mostly unmentioned. There were many Order of the Phoenix members who fought at the Battle of Hogwarts as well, and they fought bravely with the students.

12 “Perhaps It Would Be More Useful If I Were To Transfigure Mr. Potter And Yourself Into A Pocket Watch?”

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

For all that she can be a serious and dignified teacher, Minerva McGonagall isn’t afraid to be sarcastic and barb her students when they’re in the wrong. This entire exchange from The Sorcerer’s Stone begins when Ron and Harry arrive for Transfiguration class late. She wants none of their flattery and lightly threatens them with being transfigured into a pocket watch so they won’t be late again. It’s a defining moment in Ron and Harry’s friendship, as their propensity for getting into trouble starts here.

When they beg for forgiveness by saying they were lost, she suggests a map instead. The fact that Harry was easily lost in the castle ties into the fact that magic is still new to him, and he doesn’t know how to navigate the moving staircases. While McGonagall is well aware of Harry’s upbringing, she isn’t going to give him special treatment. Though she wouldn’t be allowed to use Transfiguration as a punishment, Hogwarts does seem like the kind of place where that threat isn’t completely idle.

11 “Potter, Take Weasley With You, He Looks Far Too Happy Over There.”

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

OWLs are a significant part of The Order of the Phoenix, as these tests will determine what subjects the students can continue learning at school. At the beginning of Half-Blood Prince, Harry and Ron have done poorly enough on some of their OWLs that they’re not allowed to continue on in some of their subjects. Due to this, they aren’t in potions and are having a free period when McGonagall stumbles across them in the hallway. She questions what they’re doing, as Harry needs potions if he’s going to become an Auror.

When she looks up and sees Ron laughing loudly, she realizes it’s best if he goes with Harry.

The Professor immediately enrolls Potter in Potions, insisting he go down to the dungeons at once so he can get back on track in his training. Though Snape wouldn’t have allowed Harry to continue, Slughorn will take students who received an Exceeds Expectations grade on their OWLs. When she looks up and sees Ron laughing loudly, she realizes it’s best if he goes with Harry. Like Harry, Potions was one of Ron’s weakest subjects, so it’s better that he’s there and not enjoying himself too much.

10 “We’ll Leave You To Deal With The Monster, Gilderoy. Your Skills, After All, Are Legend.”

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

This is one of the most satisfying lines in The Chamber of Secrets, especially since it’s directed at the slimy Gilderoy Lockhart. Throughout The Chamber of Secrets, barely competent Professor Gilderoy Lockhart boasts about the many achievements that he has written about and led to his fame. If his constant showboating wasn’t already irritating enough, many of the teachers seem to have caught onto the fact that Lockhart is lying about all of this, and McGonagall doesn’t take deception lightly.

When Ginny Weasley is taken into the Chamber of Secrets, McGonagall insults Gilderoy, calling his skills legend, knowing very well that Lockhart isn’t capable of handling pixies, let alone the monster hidden in the chamber. She’s aware that if she directly calls him to action for a fight, he’ll run away screaming, and that’s what she wants. However, Lockhart still makes things difficult for the characters later on in the narrative. What happens to Gilderoy Lockhart after The Chamber of Secrets is sad, but seeing McGonagall dress him down with one line is satisfying.

9 “His Name Is Voldemort, Filius. You Might As well Use It, He’s Going To Try To Kill You Either Way.”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)

McGonagall says this shortly after telling Neville and Seamus to find the other students and protect the school. After seeing two teenagers be willing to put their lives on the line, she won’t let Professor Flitwick shy away from the coming fight. This is why McGonagall is such an enduring character. She is straightforward and to the point, even if the point is terrifying. She says this to Flitwick, encouraging him to be brave in the face of imminent danger, if in a slightly roundabout way. They both, after all, survive the final Battle.

Until this point, she had been afraid to say Voldemort’s name, choosing instead to use ‘You-Know-Who,’ like many in the Wizarding World.

This is also a wonderful moment of growth for McGonagall. Until this point, she had been afraid to say Voldemort’s name, choosing instead to use ‘You-Know-Who,’ like many in the Wizarding World. However, fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself, and McGonagall is walking into this battle bravely. Many of the adults in Harry’s life encouraged him not to say Voldemort’s name, but seeing Harry’s perseverance and knowing that this might be her last stand, McGonagall refuses to go down without a fight.

8 “Potter Is A Boy, Not A Piece Of Meat!”

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

One of the cruelest things we find out in Deathly Hallows is that Dumbledore always suspected that Harry would have to die when he faced Voldemort. In a way, Dumbledore was just keeping Harry alive so he would die at the right time. This is one of the examples of the way Dumbledore fails Harry throughout the series, but also how he was determined to work towards the end of Voldemort, no matter the cost. Dumbledore had to make hard choices that frequently put Harry in harm’s way.

In The Goblet of Fire, McGonagall is already horrified by the casual way that Dumbledore, Snape, and Moody all talk about Harry’s life. They’ve decided to let him compete in the Triwizard Tournament, an event they all acknowledge is terribly dangerous, but lion-hearted McGonagall doesn’t back down. It’s heartwarming to see her rise up to fight for Harry, even though he doesn’t get to see it. McGonagall’s line echoes down the line of all the movies and is a reminder that not everyone sees Harry as a means to an end.

7 “I’ve Always Wanted To Use That Spell!”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)

In what is one of McGonagall’s most heroic moments, she gets to cast a spell that brings to life all the statues and suits of armor at Hogwarts. It is one she’s never had to use, which is a good thing, but the Battle of Hogwarts is a time for drastic measures. In a heavy moment, McGonagall sends them to the boundaries of the castle as the next line of defense against the Death Eaters. However, the tension is momentarily broken when she remarks on how much she always wanted to cast the spell.

It helps that animating the statues is a truly impressive piece of magic that helps turn the tide of the fight.

The way they film her and the descent of the soldiers is nothing short of heroic, and it is a well-deserved moment for this woman who has fought for Harry every step of the way. As she prepares to stand with the students and teachers who have come together to defend the school, McGonagall has a moment of happiness, seeing that she has the strength and skill to protect the place she cares about most. It helps that animating the statues is a truly impressive piece of magic that helps turn the tide of the fight.

6 “Welcome To Hogwarts!”

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

This is McGonagall’s sweetest moment. As Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and the rest of the students climb the stairs in Hogwarts for the first time, McGonagall stands at the top. She strikes an elegant, strong, and impressive figure. After Hagrid and the boats, she is the first person at Hogwarts most of these students ever see, and the first thing she makes sure to do is to welcome them. Though Harry has been slowly being introduced to the magical world up until this point, there’s no turning back after this.

She may seem strict and scary, but we know from her smile at this moment that McGonagall is warm and loving. When Harry hears her welcome him and the other students to the fabled school, it’s the moment he’s been waiting for his entire life. Finally, everything has fallen into place and he no longer feels distant and alienated from the rest of the world. His magical life has become real, and McGonagall is the person who bridges the gap between wishing for the wizarding world and being part of it.

5 “He’ll Be Famous – A Legend… Every Child In Our World Will Know His Name!”

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

McGonagall is one of the first characters to appear in the Harry Potter series as the audience sees her in cat form waiting at Privet Drive before Hagrid and Dumbledore arrive. As she and Dumbledore approach the Dursley house expecting Hagrid with baby Harry, she expresses her concern at leaving Harry with the Dursleys. McGonagall tells Dumbledore how they’re a terrible family of muggles and won’t be prepared to care for Harry the way a wizard family would. Already she’s looking out for Harry and his best interests at a young age.

One of her arguments is how famous Harry will be in the magical realm, foretelling something that becomes very true as Harry grows up.

One of her arguments is how famous Harry will be in the magical realm, foretelling something that becomes very true as Harry grows up. Though he isn’t aware of how special he is in early childhood, the wizarding world is full of rumors and stories about Harry, which makes him famous before he even knows about the existence of magic. Though McGonagall is right about the Dursleys, Dumbledore has a good reason for leaving Harry there, as his kindness and bravery might not have been as strong if he had been raised as a celebrity.

4 “I Will Not Have You Behaving Like A Babbling Bumbling Band Of Baboons!”

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

The Goblet of Fire incorporates many fun moments into the story, as it takes place as the characters are transitioning from childhood to adolescence. There are few rites of passage as iconic as a school dance, and using the Yule Ball as a way for the characters to make mistakes and reveal their feelings is the perfect narrative tool. In preparation for the ball, McGonagall calls all the Gryffindors together to teach them how to waltz so they will represent their school well and not embarrass their house.

Her alliteration while telling them off drives home the point and makes the quote stick out in the scene. After this, she decides to have Ron act as her dance partner to give him a hard time and demonstrate that dancing isn’t so bad. While many of the Gryffindors are reluctant to be seen trying to dance, some of them take it in stride. McGonagall ends up having a good time at the Yule Ball herself and dancing with Dumbledore.

3 “Have A Biscuit, Potter.”

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

There are few characters that McGonagall hates as openly as Dolores Umbridge, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in The Order of the Phoenix. She’s right to despise Umbridge, who’s a terrible villain, making her one of the best Harry Potter supporting characters introduced in The Order of the Phoenix. McGonagall gets in a few barbs at Umbridge throughout the story, but her best moment happens when she’s talking to Harry in her office after Umbridge gives Harry detention for the first time.

However, she surprises him completely by offering him a biscuit, which catches Harry off-guard and allows McGonagall to level with him.

At this moment, Harry’s expecting to be disciplined and even yelled at by McGonagall, who usually takes rule-breaking very seriously. However, she surprises him completely by offering him a biscuit, which catches Harry off-guard and allows McGonagall to level with him. She knows that yelling at a teacher isn’t right, but she’s also aware that Harry is going through a lot this year and that people are treating him terribly for saying that Voldemort’s back. Offering him a biscuit doesn’t change these hardships, but it shows she’s on his side.

2 “You see, Honorable As Your Intentions Were, You Too Were Out Of Bed After Hours.”

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Even when punishing Harry, Ron, and Hermione, McGonagall makes sure her actions are fair. In The Sorcerer’s Stone, the trio is caught visiting Hagrid after hours, and Draco follows them there and reports them to get them in trouble. As Draco watches smugly, McGonagall tells them that they all have detention, and he realizes that McGonagall is referring to him, too. Aghast, Draco can’t believe that he would be punished after he caught Harry, Ron, and Hermione out of bed.

While the detention quickly goes awry, it’s a small form of justice that Draco isn’t rewarded for sneaking around and trying to undermine Harry.

McGonagall is well aware that Draco followed them for the express purpose of getting them in trouble, and she doesn’t take kindly to that kind of misbehaving either. She calmly addresses his concerns and informs him that since he was also out after hours, he’s in just as much trouble. While the detention quickly goes awry, it’s a small form of justice that Draco isn’t rewarded for sneaking around and trying to undermine Harry. As a teacher, McGonagall can’t take sides, but it’s clear she prioritizes her house above all else.

1 “It’s High Time Your Grandmother Learned To Be Proud Of The Grandson She’s Got, Rather Than The One She Thinks She Ought To Have — Particularly After What Happened At The Ministry.”

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Neville is one of the most picked-on characters throughout the Harry Potter series, but as the story progresses, more people begin to realize his value. He shows his bravery in The Order of the Phoenix by going to the Ministry and fighting alongside Harry, and McGonagall brings this up when he’s feeling low in The Half-Blood Prince. Feeling down about his OWL results, McGonagall encourages Neville to take the classes he wants and be proud of how he’s proven himself.

While his grandmother loves him, she isn’t always as supportive of Neville as she could be, and McGonagall recognizes this thanks to her many years as a teacher. This quote exemplifies all the best parts of McGonagall and how she’s one of the best teachers at Hogwarts. She knows when to step in and give encouragement, and the fact that she rarely gives such direct compliments makes them all the more impactful when she does award them.

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