New Heads of House - SPOILERS!

[Hermione]

With McGonagal taking over has headmistress and Snape gone to join the ranks of the death eaters, who will be the head of Gryffindor and Slytherin? Also, who will teach DADA and transfiguration?

And also, this is a brain fart on my part, but who is head of the Ravenclaw house?

[Padma Patil]

Ok, not really sure on the first two. Maybe Slughorn will continue to teach potions and will be Head of Slytherin House? I mean the potions job isn't jinxed so Slughorn I'm guessing will probably come back if for nothing else just for the memory of Dumbledore.

Also I think Hagrid would be a logical choice for Head of Gryfindor House.

As for who is the head of Ravenclaw? That would be Flitwick I believe.


Ch. 29 The Phoenix Lament Pg. 625 - American Edition

"Thank you Hagrid," said Professor McGonagall, standing up at once and turning to look at the group around Bill's bed. "I shall have to see the Ministry when they get here. Hagrid, please tell the Heads of Houses - Slughorn can represent Slytherin - That I want to see them in my office forthwith. I would like you to join us too."

This is what McGonagal tells Hagrid and then later on on pg. 627 of the American Edition, it shows Sprout, Flitwick, and Slughorn walking into the office. So Flitwick has to be Head of Ravenclaw.

[Somnia_Veritas]

I'm not sure Sluggy will want to stay at Hogwarts for another year... when we first met him, he was in hiding. He didn't want any Death Eaters to come looking to "recruit" him, and was changing residences every few weeks - staying in Hogwarts (which, although usually safe, is easy for a wizard to find, apparently) would mean staying put and putting himself at risk. Obviously, he retired from working at Hogwarts shortly before Voldy was at his pinnacle (and downfall), so he might have been under some pressure at that time as well. I don't really believe he'd want to risk his neck again, even for Dumbledore's sake.

Of course, I could be wrong. Very little can deter a determined Slytherin once they've got their mind set on what they want, and if that's what he wants, nothing will stop him. I suppose that's why they make such skillful allies, as well as deadly enemies. (I'm sorry, but I REFUSE to believe that they're "the EVILLLL house", for a number of reasons. A Slytherin could, I'm sure, be a very good and moral person if they're willing to take seriously the responsibilities that come with power.)

Perhaps one of the "Invisible" Slytherin teachers that we haven't met will come to the fore, like Professor Vector or Professor Sinistra (and based on the pattern of S-surnamed people having that Headship, I nominate Sinistra!) It would be interesting to get a feel for a FEMALE Slytherin Head of House, and perhaps a male Gryffindor Head of House (since I don't see that McGonagall would be able to fill both roles and I don't know of any other female Gryffindor teachers.)

Lifted from the Harry Potter Lexicon:
"Sinistra" = the name of a magnitude 3.5 star in the constellation Ophiuchus, the Serpent Handler. "Ophiuchus represented Aesculapius, the ancient healer, believed to be the ancestor of Hippocrates (born 460 BCE) the great physician of Cos, and Serpens was his symbol of healing. The serpent is the symbol for the poison (venom) that can both cure and kill, Ophiuchus controls it and uses it to heal. This same snake is found on the symbol of medicine worldwide, the staff of the god Mercury, the caduceus, and both these constellations are associated with it, the caduceus shows two snakes coiling around a central rod surmounted by two wings of the bird on top."

[Aurora]

I will admit I am curious as to who will take over these spots, however I have a feeling that we may not get answers and if we do, it won't be as relevant as it has been in the past books. Harry at the end had no intention of returning to Hogwarts next year. I hope and think he may ended up stepping back inside those walls, however it won't be as a student.... therefore school will not be as central as it has been in all the other books... just my thought and theory as to why we may not find out who took over as HoH.

[Tonks]

Ok, I really do have a feeling that McGonagall, in her desperation for teachers, will beg Slughorn to stay on as Potions Master and Head of Slytherin. (I'm with Somnia_Veritas about Slytherin btw - we're not evil, we just lack the ability to be nice and friendly - ;) )

We might see Vector or Sinistra in the position of Head of Gryffindor as well. While Hagrid has definitely been around for a long time, he's rather new at teaching - I don't know if even Dumbledore would have offered to let him be Head of House, although he does have the Gryffindor roots, I believe. Actually, why not.. he's definitely loyal to McGonagall as well and we know she values his opinion as Dumbledore did..

While the Transfiguration position isn't cursed like the DADA position, and I don't think McGonagall will have as much trouble finding a teacher to fill that post, there's a slight chance she might continue to teach Transfiguration. We don't necessarily know if Dumbledore just didn't continue teaching because he had so much else to do, or if all headmasters in the past really don't teach anything.

As for DADA - I'm gonna bet yet again on someone new, if we ever find this out - :p Harry, Ron, and Hermione will probably all find out from Ginny if they never pop into Hogwarts themselves.. the information about teachers would probably be something Ron would be curious to know..

Of course, this is all assuming that we are going to find out these answers in the last book..

[Snuffles]

I think Slughorn would stay in Hogwarts as the Potions Master--if not for McGonagall's requests, then as respect to Dumbledore. Of course, he might change and all that, but I think he would be fine as the Potions teacher.

As for the Heads of Houses, I don't think it would be Hagrid who would be taking over Gryffindor. He's nice and friendly, but he's not a qualified wizard, and as people have said, he is a little reckless and not too... "teacher" type.

Can't McGonagall be both be the Transfiguration and the headmistress?

And oh yeah! Tonks great point. Are the trio ever returning to Hogwawrts? I hope so!

[Alz]

This is what McGonagal tells Hagrid and then later on on pg. 627 of the American Edition, it shows Sprout, Flitwick, and Slughorn walking into the office. So Flitwick has to be Head of Ravenclaw.
I think you could be looking at the prospective lineup right there ...
Add Hagrid into the mix as well ...
All very loyal to Hogwarts and Dumbledore - all willing to listen to Minerva ...
I think that was a possible relevance of them all going there - they will represent the houses next year ..

[Fortescue]

I think Slughorn will stick around as Potions Master and head of Slytherin as he likes to be in the thick of things - and it seems that much attention will be on Hogwarts teachers because of what Snape did. I think he might feel safer there since now it will be known that he worked for Dumbledore. He was in hiding when Dumbledore asked him to take the job. I don't think he will want to go on hiding from Voldemort and the Death Eaters. I don't think the Vanishing cabinet will remain at Hogwarts and other than that, the school should return to the safe place it was thought to be and Slughorn will want that protection.

I can see Hagrid as head of Gryffindor, but I think whomever is brought in to teach DADA or Transfiguration will get that position as I don't really think Hagrid would want the responsibility. He's already Gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures teacher - I think he has enough on his plate. Besides, I think in the final book, he might be more up for keeping his time free in case Harry needs him, that is assuming the school is open for Harry's seventh year.

[Hermione]

I like the idea of Hagrid has the Gryffindor head of house, and it would drive the slytherins mad!!! Now he can take points from them!! :D I hope Malfoy returns to school, this could be the time for some poetic justice.

[Tonks]

See actually, I'm going to change my mind a bit here - I think that Hagrid would make a good Head of Gryffindor over say Vector or Sinistra, because McGonagall knows that he is loyal to Dumbledore (and thus probably to her as well) and would do what he thought was in the school's best interest. Granted he hasn't been there the longest, but I think I would pick trust over time length any day..

I don't think we'll see Malfoy returning to Hogwarts Meredith - ;) Not with him as a known Death Eater these days.. but it would definitely be good to have the other Slytherins like Blaise and Pansy in an uproar about Hagrid.. (btw, as a teacher he can already take or add points - i don't think its reserved for the Heads of Houses but for the teachers)

[Padma Patil]

I agree, I think Hagrid will be the new Gryffindor Head of House and Malfoy will most deffinatly not be coming back to Hogwarts.

Though I also think that McGonagall will continue to teach transfiguration. I just can't picture anybody else with the job.

(Oh and Tonks is right, teachers, heads of houses, and prefects can take away points...
or add them...)