Around a year ago, Harry Potter fans heard the news about the passing of Michael Gambon, the actor for Dumbledore. Exactly one year later, on September 27th, the fans were hit again with the news of losing another beloved Harry Potter professor: actress Maggie Smith. Not only are the people who knew her grieving but also Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS) students who have watched Harry Potter and loved Professor McGonagall.
PPCHS students found their love for the Harry Potter series in numerous ways. For sophomore Nusaybah Arif, she was introduced to the series “when my mom and uncle… bought me my first book at Barnes and Nobles.” While for others like junior Madisen Palmer, she states her “best friend at the time introduced her to the series.” There is a large community who fell in love with the series, however, they didn’t watch the series just for the plotline, they watched because they loved the character’s personalities both on and off the screen.
The Harry Potter community was stunned after hearing about the recent deaths of actors like Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, and many more over the past few years. After hearing about the passing of Maggie Smith, it came as a surprise to many. Some heard the news from their families who also enjoy watching the series, while others saw the endless articles about her death through social media. This death struck a chord in all Harry Potter fans’ hearts.
Professor McGonagall acted like a mother figure to Harry Potter, and she was around for each book and movie, making this death incredibly impactful to the wizarding community. “Many young people grew up watching these movies and felt as if she was a protector to them too, or she reminded them of a protector in their lives,” junior Angelicamaria Diaz describes. Maggie Smith was the embodiment of Professor McGonagall, and “she did really well encompassing the motherly and protectiveness of the character,” junior Hannah Ikner says.
Smith was also admirable for her personality and mannerisms. Watching the behind-the-scenes clips of Harry Potter was something that Palmer enjoyed: “The behind the scenes clips are so fun to watch when she’s there.” No matter which role she was playing, Smith respected everyone and brought a smile with her everywhere she went, and Ikner “really [looks] up to Maggie Smith’s humbleness despite being such a famous and wise actress.” Fame can change someone greatly, but for Maggie, it never changed who she was.
Unfortunately, she was the last of what is known as the “platinum trio,” which consisted of Alan Rickman (Severus Snape); Michael Gamon, (Professor Dumbledore); and Maggie Smith, (Professor McGonagall). Although they have all passed away, Arif finds it sweet “that they all may be reunited once again, having the same laughs and moments as before.” Similar to Diaz’ thoughts, she thinks that “they are all still together in the end.”
Although the trio is no longer in this world, they have still found their way to leave their legacy behind in their character, Ikner relays off that “Despite the actors passing, they still live on through the characters they played”.The joy that Harry Potter fans get from the movie is a feeling that no other film can offer. To many, Maggie Smith was a legend and made a beautiful difference in the Harry Potter series. Everyone says their farewells to such a massive part of the Harry Potter community, but she’ll never be forgotten.
