The way Minerva refers to Albus

[stargatecrazy]

I was on Harry Potter Lexicon looking at Minerva quotes (because she's my favourite character and I was bored! ;D) and I realised she almost always calls Albus, "Dumbledore".

That got me thinking. It could just be me, but don't you think calling someone by just their surname a bit rude (especially to someone who's your superior?)? Most of the other teachers call Albus "Headmaster" or "Professor Dumbledore" don't they. Unless they call him "Albus" at certain moments like Minerva sometimes does.

Again this could just be me but I think it's slightly more personal for Minerva to call him just "Dumbledore".

Does anyone understand me? Or am I being totally stupid?

[kissofdeath]

Alot of characters refer to AD as Dumbledore, especially in the Order. Although I'll admit that MM does it more often.

[stargatecrazy]

I suppose. It was just a thought really.

If you look at the context when she uses 'Dumbledore' it just seems more personal.

*shrugs*

Just some MADD theory! lol

[Gifted]

I guess if you were to explain that from the way MMAD fanfictions do, perhaps they are trying to distance each other in public to keep their marriage a secret? Just my two cents.

[tabbyphoenix]

I've always felt that too ... lol.

[micha]

But she does so even without any public! Right at the beginning of the first book, it is always "Dumbledore", ,and "my dear Professor" or even "Professor McGonagall" on his side (he doesn't say "Minerva" once, and she says "Albus" only once in the moment of her greatest distress). And they are all on their own!
I have to admit this really makes me loose faith in MMAD every time I read it! - But then I forget it again ...

[stargatecrazy]

Ah yes, that scene. I happen to love that scene! lol

I've always thought it's because they don't fully believe that Voldemort was gone or something. Or because he would have still had followers around. Maybe they didn't feel safe to talk to each other using their first names.

I might be grasping at straws but I won't give in on ADMM! ;D

[greyeyedgirl]

Nov 11, 2008 13:13:32 GMT -5 micha said:

But she does so even without any public! Right at the beginning of the first book, it is always "Dumbledore", ,and "my dear Professor" or even "Professor McGonagall" on his side (he doesn't say "Minerva" once, and she says "Albus" only once in the moment of her greatest distress). And they are all on their own!
I have to admit this really makes me loose faith in MMAD every time I read it! - But then I forget it again ...

I totally know what you mean. Every time I read that it makes me sad, because they are so formal and, being alone, it hints that they are not a couple. But denial is a lovely thing, and helps me get through it!

[Gifted]

Well, aren't they expecting Hagrid to come? Albus originally arranged to meet Hagrid there and Minerva had know they were going to be there because Hagrid told her. They don't want him walking in on a private conversation. Plus, it's still on a street. Like stargatecrazy said, Death Eaters still could be around.

It's just: I don't think they're stupid enough to indicate there's a relationship in public even if it is on a dark muggle street. Of course, this could just be my own denial.

[greyeyedgirl]

Yay, I definitely like your interpretation better than mine!

[aptasi]

My interpretation of that is that they aren't together...yet, but they're about to be. The formalisms result from their nervousness around each other. Minerva slips and calls him Albus when she's emotionally distressed, indicating that turns to him for comfort. I can see them getting together within a few days of this. So, that scene doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I think it's an essential part of my understanding of them getting together.

[mcgonagallrocks]

I always thought it was the keeping her safe kind of that thing always pops up in fanfics. I mean he wouldn't want to lose her like he lost his sister. Since the things about that little battle with Gellert and Abe came up in book 7 that's always been the way I thought. He wouldn't want to risk getting his heart broken again by losing her so, in public at least he tries to keep himself distanced from her. And if you think about it if someone did find out about their relationship they could both lose their jobs, rumors would go around about the fact he's giving her advantages that go along with her job as Deputy and Head of Gryffindor just because she's sleeping with him, or even that she's taking advantage of him and demanding certain things with Hogwarts for Gryffindors before she'll sleep with him. People *cough* DE's/Slytherines *cough* could and probably would if you look at some of them start saying things like that. There isn't really anything they could do about it except have one of them, probably Min, quit/retire or both of them step down. What better way to get rid of Albus and his second in command in one shot?

((little detailed lol but I did a plot like that on a RP site one time evil Cissy Malfoy love her though))

[Gifted]

Those are very good theories!

[tabbyphoenix]

Yes! They're expecting Hagrid! That's the reason why he doesn't go hug her! Faith, people!

[sylvadragon]

Odd how differently people can interpret things lol cos for me when I reread chapter one recently it utterly convinced me that they were secretly married, and I don't think it was wishful thinking - at least I hope not. It was just Minerva's "Oh Albus," when told the bad news, so soul wrenching, so ...oh I don't know how to express it, but it just made me feel some kind of hidden depths or passion in their relationship, as though she was reaching out to him. So I suppose then my only issue would be why oh why didn't he comfort her ? And of course, imo, there are two very valid explanations - first they both still wished to keep their true relationship secret, (partly to protect Minerva from danger). Second Minerva is an intensely private person and certainly would not have thanked Albus if his attempts to comfort her had caused her to loose control in public. Albus knew this, and respected it, and that's why he simply patted her shoulder.

Erm that's my take on it anyway.

[greyeyedgirl]

That explanation just made my day! I don't know what I was thinking...

[Gifted]

Dec 9, 2008 22:00:19 GMT -5 sylvadragon said:

And of course, imo, there are two very valid explanations - first they both still wished to keep their true relationship secret, (partly to protect Minerva from danger). Second Minerva is an intensely private person and certainly would not have thanked Albus if his attempts to comfort her had caused her to loose control in public. Albus knew this, and respected it, and that's why he simply patted her shoulder.

I hadn't thought of the second reason! I like it!

See everyone, MMAD is completely plausible. Even in the first chapter.

[sylvadragon]

*Smiles happily.*I'm glad my reason makes sense.

Greyeyedgirl I love your signature, is that a quote from one of the books ? Or is it from a fanfic ? It's certainly Minerva at her humourous best.

[greyeyedgirl]

It's from the 5th book when Umbridge is trying to get Marietta (don't know how to spell her name and am too lazy to look it up) to tell about the DA meetings. It's probably my favorite thing Minerva says in the series!

[sylvadragon]

It's from the 5th book when Umbridge is trying to get Marietta (don't know how to spell her name and am too lazy to look it up) to tell about the DA meetings. It's probably my favorite thing Minerva says in the series!

Oh, I have to go look that up - I love Minerva in the 5th book, she's totally awesome, and I was so disappointed when they left all those scenes out of the film, and made her look weak in others.

[Katheryn Mae]

I agree. It seems a little professional but it was more their personalities that turned me MMAD. So no matter what she calls him (she can curse him out for all I care), Minerva will always be Minerva McGonagall Dumbledore in my mind.

[tabbyphoenix]

I second what sylvadragon says, I was looking forward to OotP for those scenes only ... and there were no scenes there.

[sylvadragon]

I was also looking forward to things like the bog that Fred and George made, and the scene in Dumbledore's office at the end of the book, was horribly disappointed in those too.

[damemaggie]

What I like most about this scene at the beginning, is that even though they don´t refer to each other as "Minerva" and "Albus" they do flatter with each other:
My dear Professor, surely a sensible person like yourself can call him by his name? (Albus)
Only because you´re too-well-noble to use them.
Besides the fifth book (the "He will not be single handed" scene especially) leaves totally clear that they are in love and that JKR is completely out of her senses

[Aveline]

Hm. I agree wholeheartedly that it is more personal. I call one of my teachers by their surname, simply because we're more like friends than teacher/student. It is more personal.

[sylvadragon]

Besides the fifth book (the "He will not be single handed" scene especially) leaves totally clear that they are in love and that JKR is completely out of her senses

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with that opinion of JKR ;D

[tabbyphoenix]

Of course, you're not the only one! I suppose all 975 of us second that opinion ;D

Aveline, awesome banner!

[Twisted Peppermint]

This may be only me, but I do believe that Minerva was so happy she and Albus are married, if only secretly, that she just wants to be able to remind both of them that they are married and not just colleagues. It did make sense in my mind but putting it on paper really made it confusing.

[harmonydumbledore]

Anyone notice that in the movies the characters call each other Albus and Minerva more often but each time they say it it's like a whisper?

Seriously! Even Richard, Maggie, and Micheal get it!

Except in Goblet of Fire Albus snaps at her and that when we get that "What!? Oh you are so on the couch tonight buster" look from Mags and Gambon looks a little depressed as seh walks away because he knows he's on the couch that night.


Well at least my denial tells me this. It's a good denial. Helps me see what's JK says is not there. BUT IT IS JK IT IS!!! Your problem my dear authoress is that you were to wrapped up in psycho Voldie vs. "Woe is me" Potter to see it.

[McGonagallsGirl]

Mhmm, and it also strikes me as somewhat playful, the calling him 'Dumbledore'. and I totally agree about that Goblet of Fire moment. That's always how I perceived it too!

--MG