Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Michael Corner

Michael Corner Male Dark Unknown Unknown Dumbledore's Army Overview Michael Corner is a Ravenclaw student in the same year as Harry. Role in the Books Order of the Phoenix Michael Corner attends the first meeting of Dumbledore's Army (although that name hasn't yet been chosen) at the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade. After the meeting breaks up, Hermione tells Harry and Ron that Michael had been there because Ginny Weasley had attended. Ginny and Michael, she says, are currently going out together. This causes Ron to state that he doesn't trust Michael. Carefully, because she was aware that Harry and Ginny had been speculatively linked, Hermione goes on to say that Ginny had been waiting for Harry but had given up, and had met Michael at the Yule Ball in the previous year. They had started going out shortly after that. As Harry is unable to play as Seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Ginny takes his place. The final match of the year pits Gryffindor against Ravenclaw; and when Ginny catches the Snitch out from under Cho Chang's nose, Michael sulks instead of congratulating his girlfriend. Ginny then "ditched him, and he went off to comfort Cho Chang instead." On the Hogwarts Express, when Ginny tells this to Ron and Harry, Ron hints that she might now be able to find someone better, implying that Harry would be that someone; Ginny says that she's going out now with Dean Thomas. Half-Blood Prince Michael Corner asks a question of Professor Slughorn during his and Harry's first potion class. Deathly Hallows As he leads Harry, Ron, and Hermione into the school from the Hog's Head, Neville mentions that Michael Corner had gotten caught releasing a first-year student that the Carrows had chained up as punishment. Michael had gotten very badly beaten for that, which had slowed down the activities of the revived Dumbledore's Army; Neville, the one remaining leader, felt that they could not ask anyone else to go through what Michael had suffered. When Harry returns to the school, Michael Corner is one of the students in the Room of Requirement waiting for his return. He does have a role in the ensuing battle, but we don't see much of him. Strengths As a member of Dumbledore's Army, we can assume that Michael is reasonably skilled with defensive magic, having been taught some by Harry. He is one of the DA members who defend Harry against Malfoy and his cronies at the end of the fifth book. His presence in Slughorn's NEWT potions class suggests his intelligence. On account of the fact that he was caught releasing a first-year (and was tortured quite badly for it), we can assume he was taking part in DA activities in his final year, indicating his bravery. Weaknesses The one time we see Michael indicating a weakness is immediately preceding his break-up with Ginny. He is unable to cope with Ravenclaw losing the Quidditch Cup and sulks, rather than congratulating Ginny and her team. Relationships with Other Characters Michael is, predictably, shown to be familiar mostly with his fellow Ravenclaws - whether travelling in a carriage with them on the train, or being part of the little group of Ravenclaws ("Padma, Terry, Michael and Cho") Harry addresses before the final battle. He is occasionally seen with Ginny, too, during their relationship. It is perhaps interesting that Michael and Harry have shared romantic interest in the same girls; Michael dated Ginny before Harry did, and dated Cho after Harry had done so. Despite this, there is never any enmity between them. Analysis Michael is introduced largely as a love interest for Ginny and to fill out the Ravenclaw roster. He gets a few mentions throughout the rest of the saga here and there, with a few actions and lines - and, of course, briefly as a boyfriend for Cho. While there was no particular need for Michael to continue to appear in the story, he does so, as an available Ravenclaw. Questions Michael is a student in his seventh year, so he must have Blood Status. Is he a pure-blood or half-blood? He was particularly unhappy when his house lost the Quidditch Cup. Might he have been on the team, or just loyal to his house? Greater Picture Like a fair few background characters in the story, Michael comes into increasing prominence later on, as a DA member and Ginny's love interest. The author has shown a tendency to do this, with some (such as Ernie and Lavender) becoming more important, while others are limited to a few small cameos. Michael remains firmly in the second category, but from what we see of him - and hear of him from Ginny - we get a general idea of the sort of person he is.