It seemed to Minerva and so, I don't know, familiar as a Scottish presbyterian??
Minerva's sternness is so distinctive, isn't it? As much as I bad-mouth JKR's writing, the contrasting image of Dumbeldore, fumbling and tearing over and indulging in candy, is such a wonderful contrast to McGonagall, grimly pushing an unwanted biscuit on Harry in unspoken admiration for his defiance of Umbridge. I can't imagine her being so stern early in life, but that preoccupation with character, fair play, and hard work have to be there from childhood.
touch that flying on a broom -- such an archetypal bit of witch-dom -- doesn't take magic
Yay! I don't think I convinced everyone, but the farther I got into this story, the more I began to think that there *had* to be a number of Squibs or near-Squibs amongst the Hogwarts population, and that in some respects magic itself wasn't so essential to being at Hogwarts as the perception of difference, ability, and superiority. If the broom's charmed, why does Rolanda need to have the "right" blood? And why are we Muggles all so fascinated and impressed by magic, anyway?
Thanks so much for reading, Min--I appreciate it. M.