Minerva, A Case of Unrequited Love?

[Kandice]

Its the middle of the night but I couldn't sleep and began thinking. I love the thought of AD/MM but do you think JKR can realistically introduce them as having been a couple for a long time or would it seem more likely that it was one sided on the part of Albus or Minerva?

I can see her depicting Minerva as having fallen in love with Albus after working with him and perhaps he doesn't see it or maybe doesn't aknowledge it.

I am nervous that she will dispell the notion of them as a couple in some manner and hopes she doesn't kill one of them off.

I just wondered if any of you noticed a difference in their relationship from book one to five that shows them becoming closer or something. I know its hard when its written from a boys point of view but maybe I missed something.

[Krystal]

I knew after our conversation you would take this up here but I will repeat myself. I don't think they are a ship in canon nor will they be. I like the idea of it but unless Albus is even more dense in his marriage then he has been with Harry, he has been a poor husband.

He doesn't share things with her that a husband would with a wife.

[Kamdra]

I think the movies are more supportive of a romance and JKR wouldn't allow something of that sort to happen if it might not happen later.

In the movies Hermione and Ron are much more 'together' than in the books which I believe is the direction she is taking them so why not portray Albus and Minerva a bit softer as well if she tends to reveal they will be a couple later.

[Kandice]

Well no one can doubt that Minerva is definitely loyal to him and I think she is more than capable of carrying on an affair without it disrupting their personal or professional lives to the degree that Harry would notice something going on. I think a relationship would have to be fairly recent though

[Kamdra]

Well its pretty obvious that he flirts with her although he may flirt with others too. Perhaps Minerva is the lonely spinster and he thinks he's brightening her day or something or maybe they are just good friends but I think they are a couple

[Kassandra]

In GOF Minerva was not aware of Sirius Black as an animagus or as being innocent when Albus told her to fetch him so I have to agree that this is the sort of thing a husband or least lover would tell his wife. Afterall, she would not tell if he asked and although he is definitely not one to talk idly, some secrets are just shared.

[Kandice]

It's also obvious she is unaware of the prohecy at the beginning of book one but JKR couldn't let any of us know that early in the series that it existed so that isn't saying much.

I think Albus tells things on a needs to know basis because anyone can fall victim to veritaserum. He has fought in a war before and I bet he is extremely cautious about leaking information

[Karlynne]

In POA its obvious that Minerva has little regard for divination and it appeared to me as if she weren't particularly crazy about Sybil either but in OOTP she is definitely kinder to her and I don't believe its just because of Umbridge.

She was aware of the existence of the prophecy being a member of the Order and I think this change towards Sybil is because she learned of the prophecy and why Sybil is protected and housed at Hogwarts. I doubt she is going to change her views towards divination but she seemed warmer than one would expect from her with Sybil in OOTP.

That tells me that Albus may have told her more about the prophecy then others. HE may have told her that Sybil was the one while others may not know it (on the ORDER's side).

I believe he shares things with Minerva not just because she is his deputy and they have worked together nearly forty years but because they have at the very least a very good friendship.

Not even Albus Dumbledore can carry the weight of the world on his shoulders without confiding in someone.

[Kassandra]

He may not have told Minerva why he hired Sybil but I doubt he had much to say about the hiring of Lockhart either. I don't think she questions his decisions too much which could me that her devotion is so strong that it would smack of disloyalty in her opinion. I think she loves him and whether or not he loves her I don't know

[Krystal]

In COS Minerva asked Albus about the meaning of the ruined filmed in Colin's camera after he had been petrified and he told her that it meant the students were no longer safe and the chamber was opened. She should have been aware of this if they discussed things. If they were a couple it would have been a current topic given the situation. She just seems too uninformed about things to be in a relationship with him. Not that I would not like to see it happen, I just cant see JKR doing it.

[Kandice]

but in CoS it also tells us that Albus tells Madame Pomfrey that Minerva found him on the stairs and then Minerva says later that if Albus hadn't been on his way downstairs for hot chocolate who knows what might have-" this is on page 180.

Even if Minerva found Colin, she is more than capable of transporting the boy to the hospital wing with magic. No she and Albus carried Colin in and Minerva was trying to give an excuse for Albus being up at the same time and in the same place.

I think this hints at a secret relationship but of what kind I don't know.

[Kassandra]

Well I can see how a 12 year old boy would take what Minerva said at face value. Two people meeting at night would seem innocent in that regard but we don't know that it wasn't coincidence

[Karlynne]

I don't think we are going to see too much romance between any of the adults in Harry's life because it isn't something he would tune into. He has never mentioned any actions by Arthur and Molly who are married and thankfully has never mentioned anything in regards to the Dursleys.

Most things happen behind closed doors or at least away from prying eyes. While Harry may be aware of developing interests in his age group I don't think he would pay particular attention to his teachers unless he walked in on them and caught them in the act of flirthing obviously with each other or doing even more.

[Krystal]

I have to go to work but I can tell you that although we may want the ship to happen in canon JKR hasn't given any indication that she will explore any of the adult lives with the exception of Snape who I guess she is setting us up to learn more about. I don't think she is going to do much more explaining about the marauders past and it doesn't seem likely she would explore Albus' or Minerva's past either.

No, the best we can hope for is at the ending of book 7 for her to list what happens to the survivors and to state that Albus and Minerva after decades of friendship decided to marry upon his retirement from Hogwarts.

[Sensiblyquirky]

I too have wondered/feared that Minerva is hopelessly in love with him, and he not with her. Her defense of him is what originally convinced me that she was in love, but I think it is important to note that since this is from Harry's pov Harry sees more of Minerva than he does of Albus. And whenever he sees them together it isn't exactly the prime opportunity for some hand holding, or anything major for Harry to notice. Harry's major time spent with Albus is one-on-one during their talks at the end of each book, so there is no interaction between minerva and albus there.

As to information: I think Minerva knows the most out of any member of the order save Albus. Albus seems to prefer to keep the information to himself, whether that is security issues or what I don't know. So I'm not sure we can base the relationship off of, or not off of the information she knows. Someone mentioned GOF and Sirius' animgus form. Minerva is instructed to leave the room before Sirius changes form, which means she probably already knows. Further she is asked to bring the dog to Albus' office, and Snape to the kitchens for winky. We know that Snape did not know about Sirius until he changes in the hospital wing, but Minerva is never around to see it. To me this means she didn't need to be, because she knows.

The only thing that worries me is in each book JKR spends time noting how much Minerva stands up for Dumbledore: be it when umbridge interrupts him, during gof with the competition, standing beside him, etc..., but she doesn't focus on Dumbledore. Because I want them to be a couple I'm going to chalk that up to JKR just trying to drive how loyal she is home.

[Krystal]

That's my point exactly. Minerva is more in the role of a side kick or the Della to Albus' Perry Mason. She is helpful to him, extremely loyal but he doesn't show any romantic interest in her.

I think its a one sided romance.

[Kandice]

I disagree. Minerva isn't his secretary but colleague. He probably doesn't have complete power to fire her. I think she hs his ear and probably keeps his secrets for him.

I bet when Harry was passed aside for prefect it was discussed with her and agreed upon. Yes she does listen to him but I think he listens to her too.

[Sensiblyquirky]

I agree with you Kandie. My point with the Sirius thing earlier is that she knows more than you think she does, and earlier than everybody else. The trust she has in him is earned, but he has to have the same trust in her.

Minerva is a very passionate person, and you see it all the time. Albus on the other hand is the eptiome of self-control. So it seems logical that you would see more of how she feels for him, because Albus' might be a look or something that Harry would never see. He rarely focuses on the adults, alas.

[Krystal]

No, you're confusing friendship and a good working relationship with romance. After forty years it would be expected that they would know a lot about each other but that doesn't mean he has chased her around the desk.

didn't she blush when hagrid kissed her? that doesn't sound like a women in a relationship

[Karlynne]

In PoA when Minerva, Fudge, Flitwick, and Hagrid was talking with Madame Rosemerta about Sirius Black, Minerva was quick to defend Albus about his stance on keeping the dementors out of the castle and also told the story that Cornelius himself said very few people knew.

Minerva was able to tell key points of the story and said that she was there when Albus offered to be the Potters secret keeper.

Its obvious she was a member of the Order but not everyone was privy to the information at that time. The fact that Minerva not only knew this but was there shows a bit more than the role of confidant.

It doesn't say where they were but since this was October and school was in its safe to assume they were at Hogwarts.

Dumbledore was trying hard to keep the Potters and Longbottoms safe. I doubt many people were aware and the fact that Minerva was aware of the use of Dumbledore's spies tells me that there may have been pillow talk after all. I know you disagree Krys but she didn't need to know all this information in her role as Deputy Headmistress or member of the Order.

[Krystal]

I am just saying that with the information given so far, it is just as easy for Minerva to turn out to be his daughter or niece instead of significant other.

[Karlynne]

I was speaking with Meredith today and she mentioned thatMinerva seems to be close by Albus' side and wondered if she had a more important role that we aren't aware of yet and this brought to mind the discussion earlier of how Albus did not seem to put Minerva out on the front lines as if she could not be lost. Something a significant other might do huh?

[QuillofMinerva]

I have always thought that there is more to Minerva McGonagall than meets the eye. Her meaning of her name Minerva is a strong clue perhaps as it means wisdom and protector. I think we will see a lot more of her in the upcoming final two books because OofP gave her the stunning scene and a big scene was made of that by Harry...who always expected her to be there.

I have heard many people say that Minerva could be his daughter, god daughter, neice, granddaughter ect. I prefer the lovers idea but honestly I doubt we will see that through Harrys eyes

[Krystal]

That is one thing I do agree with. Minerva seems to be getting built up for something larger but I'm not sure the outcome will be wonderful. I can see her saving a bunch of students and getting killed for her efforts although that is not I would hope to happen. I see her as really brave and powerful but passionate and I can't imagine her not defending the students.

[Karlynne]

I was in a discussion about Minerva's name meaning goddess of war yesterday or the day before and I don't want to think Albus keeps her near because of a possible role she may have in the war. It hasn't been explained why she wasn't in the picture of the first Order of the Phoenix although I'm pretty certain she was a member. Hopefully this will be explained along with more background on her in book six.

[Kassandra]

JKR is probably more than aware of the litle AD/MM following she has inspired but will leave us dangling until the last page of book 7 so lets just wait and see if they are lovers or what not.