Fictional Bucket List #43

 

 

Associated Book/Series: Harry Potter, X-Men, Dead Poets Society, Magic School Bus, and Boy Meets World

Harry Potter Moment of the Week #29

This is a meme started by Uncorked Thoughts which aims to share with fellow bloggers a weekly slice of HP awesomeness. It is an awesomeness that only increases with time and number of reads. Once a week we will share a character, spell, chapter, object, quote etc. from the books/films/J. K. Rowling (or anything Potter related)! Each topic will be posted on Uncorked Thoughts HERE. There will also be  free weeks where everyone can share whatever topic they want! Be sure to share your link on the main site for all other HP MOTW fans to enjoy!

This Week’s Theme: Best Hogwarts teacher

This probably should be harder than it actually is. But I’m incredibly biased towards one teacher in particular:

Minerva McGonagall, aka the Sass-Mistress of Hogwarts

There are many reasons why I think she’s an incredible teacher. Aside from her obvious general brilliance as a witch, she’s a master of her chosen subject, Transfiguration (although, so are most of the other teachers at Hogwarts.)

“Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts,” she said. “Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned.” (Sorcerer’s Stone, Chapter 8)

She’s incredibly fair. (Some Gryffindor students might suggest a little too fair!) She doesn’t consider a students house when it comes to following or breaking the rules. She is able to maintain a sense of neutrality when awarding points or punishing infractions. She puts the wellfare of her students first, and she uses her iron will to force other around her to do the same.

I think one of the things that sets her apart from other teachers is that she is able to get to know and understand exactly who her students are and uses that to bring out the best in them. Or at the very least she helps them get to a place where they realize she cares about their well-being, even though it might not look like it on the surface.

 She’s strong, she’s compassionate, and she goes above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that her students have a safe place where they can learn their craft. She doesn’t let anyone, child or adult, push her around.

“Really, Severus,” said Professor McGonagall sharply. “I see no reason to stop the boy playing Quidditch. This cat wasn’t hit over the head with a broomstick. There is no evidence at all that Potter has done anything wrong.” (Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9)

And as a bonus, she’s a complete Sassy-Mc-Sasspants!

“Well, usually when a person shakes their head,” said McGonagall coldly, “they mean ‘no’. So unless Miss Edgecombe is using a form of sign-language as yet unknown to humans –” (Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 27)

“My grandmother thinks Charms is a soft option,” mumbled Neville.
“Take Charms,” said Professor McGonagall, “and I shall drop Augusta a line reminding her that just because she failed her Charms O.W.L., the subject is not necessarily worthless.” (Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 9)

So Professor McGonagall. I say you’re the best Hogwarts teacher. What do you have to say for yourself??

Well, that’s really all I’ve got for ya! Just a small moment of sweet HP goodness! I hope you enjoyed it, and please, feel free to share your own thoughts on who you think the best Hogwarts teacher is/was in the comments below!

Harry Potter Moment of the Week #18

This is a meme started by Uncorked Thoughts which aims to share with fellow bloggers a weekly slice of HP awesomeness. It is an awesomeness that only increases with time and number of reads. Once a week we will share a character, spell, chapter, object, quote etc. from the books/films/J. K. Rowling (or anything Potter related)! Each topic will be posted on Uncorked Thoughts HERE. There will also be  free weeks where everyone can share whatever topic they want! Be sure to share your link on the main site for all other HP MOTW fans to enjoy!

This Week’s Theme: Best Minerva McGonagall line?

There are so many great lines both in books and film by the lovely and ever so talented Professor Minerva McGonagall (played in the movies by the delightful Maggie Smith). Here are a few of my favorites, I couldn’t bring myself to narrow it down to just 1…

Early (and quintessential) McGonagall from The Sorcerer’s Stone (film):

Ron: That was bloody brilliant!
Professor McGonagall: Well, thank you for that assessment, Mr Weasley. Perhaps it would be more useful if I were to transfigure Mr Potter and yourself into a pocket watch? That way, one of you might be on time.
Harry: We got lost.
Professor McGonagall: Then perhaps a map? I trust you don’t need one to find your seats.

Then there’s this moment from The Prisoner of Azkaban (book):

“YOU CHEATING SCUM!’ Lee Jordan was howling into the megaphone, dancing out of Professor McGonagall’s reach. ‘YOU FILTHY, CHEATING B–”
Professor McGonagall didn’t even bother to tell him off. She was actually shaking her fist in Malfoy’s direction… (Chapter 15)

And these moments from Order of the Phoenix (the book in which I, personally, think she really shines):

“Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge?”
“Yes,” said Harry.
“You called her a liar?”
“Yes.”
“You told her He Who Must Not Be Named is back?”
“Yes.”
Professor McGonagall sat down behind her desk, frowning at Harry. Then she said, “Have a biscuit, Potter.”
“Have – what?”
“Have a biscuit,” she repeated impatiently, indicating a tartan tin lying on top of one of the piles of papers on her desk. “And sit down.” (Chapter 12)

and

“I wonder,” said Professor McGonagall in cold fury, turning on Professor Umbridge, “how you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking.” (Chapter 15)

and

“False hope?” repeated Professor McGonagall, still refusing to look round at Professor Umbridge. “He has achieved high marks in all his Defence Against the Dark Arts tests –”
“I’m terribly sorry to have to contradict you, Minerva, but as you will see from my not, Harry has been achieving very poor results in his classes with me –”
“I should have made my meaning plainer,” said Professor McGonagall, turning at last to look at Umbridge directly in the eyes. “He has achieved high marks in all Defence Against the Dark Arts tests set by a competent teacher.” (Chapter 29)

and

… Harry witnessed Professor McGonagall walking right past Peeves, who was determinedly loosening a crystal chandelier, and could have sworn he heard her tell the poltergeist out of the corner of her mouth, “It unscrews the other way.” (Chapter 30)

From The Deathly Hallows (film part 2):

Minerva McGonagall: Why don’t you confer with Mr. Finnigan? As I recall, he has a particular proclivity for pyrotechnics.
Seamus Finnigan: I can bring it down!
Minerva McGonagall: That’s the spirit, now away you go.

 

And of course there’s this little beauty as well: 

 

Well, that’s really all I’ve got for ya! Just a small moment of sweet HP goodness! I hope you enjoyed it, and please, feel free to share your own thoughts on what you think the best McGonagall line is/was in the comments below!

Harry Potter Moment of the Week #15

This is a meme started by Uncorked Thoughts which aims to share with fellow bloggers a weekly slice of HP awesomeness. It is an awesomeness that only increases with time and number of reads. Once a week we will share a character, spell, chapter, object, quote etc. from the books/films/J. K. Rowling (or anything Potter related)! Each topic will be posted on Uncorked Thoughts HERE. There will also be  free weeks where everyone can share whatever topic they want! Be sure to share your link on the main site for all other HP MOTW fans to enjoy!

This Week’s Theme: Free week – Favorite Moment in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

For my free week, I’m going back to a previous HP MOTW that “aired” before I started following/participating in this meme: What is my favorite moment from the book/film that started it all????

I have to say, this one caused me quite a hold-up as I considered all the pieces of the first book. I think there are moments that really shined there, which didn’t stand out quite as much in the films. So, with that in mind, the moment I’m choosing is…

Harry on a Broom!!

I love all the moments in the first book when Harry discovers his love of (and adeptness at) riding a broomstick. I think it’s probably because it’s the first time we see him really find his footing and be good at something magical or wizardly.

“Harry ignored her. Blood was pounding in his ears. He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and up, up he soared; air rushed through his hair, and his robes whipped out behind him — and in a rush of fierce joy he realized he’d found something he could do without being taught — this was easy, this was wonderful.”  — pg 148

It’s such a cool moment. And, of course, it is this moment that leads Harry to Quidditch! Going back and looking through the book, I was reminded of how epic that first match felt. How cool, how new and exciting. Unfortunately, I think for many of us that the scene in the film didn’t really live up to the hype we were feeling when we read it (those graphics, *face palm*). But more than that, I think it was missing a couple of other moment-makers.

Most notably, I think what I missed most about the first Quidditch match, which I adored in the books is the commentary from Jordan and Professor McGonagall.

“And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor — what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too –”

“JORDAN!”

“Sorry, Professor.” — pgs. 185-186

lol! Who could resist the magnificent and entertaining commentary of this duo? It’s so well-pitched, and really gave the Weasley Twins’ best friend so much more character, which is sadly lacking throughout the scenes of the Quidditch matches in the film. And Dean yelling about red cards in soccer matches, because he wasn’t used to the sport was pretty entertaining, too. But this bit was just priceless:

Lee Jordan was finding it difficult not to take sides.

“So — after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating — ”

“Jordan!” growled Professor McGonagall.

“I mean, after that open and revolting foul — ”

“Jordan, I’m warning you — ”

“All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I’m sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession.” — pg. 188

The final moments of the match are pretty priceless too. I mean, the way Harry catches the Snitch?! Now that’s funny, and awesome.

Well, that’s really all I’ve got for ya! Just a small moment of sweet HP goodness! I hope you enjoyed it, and please, feel free to share your own thoughts on what your favorite moment from Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone in the comments below!