J.K. Rowling released an insightful biography about Horace Slughorn, details about Professor McGonagall's involvement in the Battle of Hogwarts, and the many complicated steps for a wizard and witch to become an animagus in the new
Pottermore Presents books, available now.
A brief breakdown of the new information can be read here, but to get all the details, fans are going to have to order and read through the three books, of which order links are below.
Horace Eugene Flaccus Slughorn: Quote:
Birthdate: April 28
Wand: Cedar and dragon heartstring, 10 and a quarter inches, fairly flexible
Hogwarts House: Slytherin (sorted instantly)
Special Abilities: Accomplished Occlumens, expert Potioneer, advanced self-transfiguration
Parentage: wizard father (high-ranking position in Department of International Magical Co-operation), wizard mother (family one of the 'sacred twenty-eight')
Family: never married, no children
Hobbies: The Slug Club, corresponding with former students, fine wine and confectionery
Slughorn's backstory reveals details about his characteristics to woo and engage with the famous and intelligent, as shown many times in
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. His relationship with Tom Riddle was extensively explained as well, as was Slughorn's horror and sickness that came from believing that after he told Riddle about the Horcruxes, he became the supposed immortal form of Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore took sympathy on Slughorn after the Potions master gave him some insight about this, and after Voldemort's first fall when attacking Harry Potter as a baby, Slughorn soon retired, after 50 years of service at Hogwarts.
Slughorn was utterly against Voldemort and his reign, and was terrified when Voldemort returned to power for the second war. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Slughorn first got his Slytherin students to safety in the village of Hogsmeade, then returned back to Hogwarts with Charlie Weasley after getting the villagers into the battlefield.
Slughorn and Regulus Black's bravery and rebellion against Voldemort was well publicized to the point that Slytherin House had lost a great deal of the negative reputation attached to it for hundreds of years. Slughorn, after retirement, was given a portrait in the Slytherin common room in commemoration.
Minerva McGonagall at the Battle of Hogwarts and beyond:
Professor McGonagall was the very last person to duel with Lord Voldemort before Harry Potter took him down at the Battle of Hogwarts in
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. She received the Order of Merlin, First Class, by the new Minster for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and even got her own Chocolate Frog card, an "accolade she admitted she had never imagined receiving."
Lily and James Potter were McGonagall's all-time favorite students, and that trickled down to her affection toward their son, Harry. McGonagall was secretly sympathetic to Harry as she had personal losses herself, and although she never outright showed him any favoritism, she trusted him beyond word, even up to the Battle of Hogwarts, supporting him unequivocally even though he didn't tell her all details about Voldemort.
After the battle, McGonagall had a chat with Harry, and after he presumably revealed all about Voldemort, Horcruxes, Dumbledore and everything surrounding the saga, McGonagall - now Headmistress - made the decision to add Severus Snape to the gallery of old headmasters and headmistresses in the head tower office.
Finally, J.K. Rowling wrote down all the steps a wizard or witch has to take to become an animagus, and for those who thought it was outrageous for the Marauders to have spent a couple of years to transform into Padfoot, Wormtail and Prongs, it makes complete sense now. Several steps can last or extend beyond a month each, including the very first (inserting a mandrake leaf into one's mouth and not removing or swallowing it for an entire month - failure to do this will restart the process).
The Pottermore Presents e-books can be ordered via the links below now: