Passing of a Great Woman

The air was somber in the great hall as her casket was carried down to the dais. Not levitated, carried the six pallbearers were a veritable whose who of the modern wizarding world. Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Ronald Weasely, Edward Lupin, William and George Weasely. If you believed that was sensational the honor guard that escorted them was immense and contained Alumni, Staff and Students from all houses. The service was an emotional roller coaster as staff, Students and alumni spoke of the woman they knew. It was plain to see that this woman, Minerva McGonagall was loved and revered by many. Former students had much to say

Harry Potter had this to say "Our first day Ron Weasely and I come running into her class…Late. There is this cat sitting on the desk looking displeased. Ron being who he is says for all the class to hear 'Made it, can you imagine what old McGonagall would do if we were late' let us just say after her appearance transforming from her form as a cat, she had a few choice things to say about maps and watches. She was a strong, stern lady before the war after She treated us all as if we were her grandchildren."

Draco Malfoy went on record saying "After the welcoming feast in our first night Slytherin, Professor Snape told us from the 'Do not under any circumstances disrespect or irritate Madam McGonagall, She can and will Make your life miserable and I will help her.' Without her guidance I don't think so many of us would have recovered in the aftermath and became the people we needed to be."

My relationship with Hermione Granger has been as some will say Adversarial over the years with her being a Gryffindor and myself being a Slytherin. That day we set aside the childish this and Went on the record 'Minerva McGonagall, was everything I wanted to be before I knew I wanted to be it. She had this presence; I know you know for years we sat in the same class and she could silence a room with glance. But in that last year of school, she changed. She showed us Not only her personal style but showed us how her mentor Professor Dumbledore conducted magic as opposed to casting magic showing us that she too could have fun. When she asked me to take her place as Transfiguration mistress. I was humbled that she believed in me. To this day and probably forever she will be my example of everything a witch should be'

For myself when I was a snot nosed firstie I did not believe my head of house and it set the tone for the next six years as Madam McGonagall and I butted heads over what I know now as trivial stuff. In our seventh year a year I am not proud of not as a Slytherin nor as a witch in general I had a moment just before the Siege of Hogwarts where I gave into my fear in the our much needed eight year, she came upon me after an altercation with some other witches who had not liked that I suggested that we give Harry Potter to Tom Riddle. At dinner that night she publicly punished them and warned that any further actions of that nature would be dealt with most severely.

Minerva McGonagall was one of the strongest women I have ever met and her strength shows through in the students she taught. She led an extraordinary life and in doing so changes whole generations. She is loved and she will be missed.

Pansy Potter
Editor, Daily Prophet

Harry finished reading the article with tears in his eyes "I think she would have liked it" he said with a watery smile

Authors Note: Today is a sad day Dame Maggie smith is no longer with us, and we are poorer for her absence.