Mary Elizabeth Macdonald (b. 1958/1959) is a Muggle-born witch and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald, who are greengrocers. She started her education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1970 and was sorted into Gryffindor.
She is a close friend of Lily Evans and Marlene McKinnon. She dates various boys, the most notable of whom was Umbert Stebbins, who she caught cheating on her with Shelley Mumps. She also befriends Reginald Cattermole, whom she calls 'Reg' (after much ado).
It is revealed in Chapter 20: "Moments" that Mary Macdonald can see Thestrals.
History[]
Mary Macdonald was born the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald. She grew up in the same building as Marlene Price, another Muggle-born witch.
Throughout "The Life and Times"[]
Sixth Year[]
"Failures of Courage"[]
- Lily Evans: "I thought you liked him."
- Mary Macdonald: "I did."
- Lily Evans: "Then why did you say 'no'?"
- Mary Macdonald: "Because he's a tart."
- — Mary calls a bloke, Donovan Atwater. a 'tart' for the first time
Marlene had gone on a date with Donovan Atwater the previous weekend with no further updates since. Thus, during Potions, Mary's bad mood worsens as she is paired with Reginald Cattermole instead of Donovan and tells Reginald so. She calls Alexa Kyle a 'tart' for sitting next to Donovan and Reginald defends her. He, then, calls Donovan a 'tart' to which Mary replies that 'boys can't be tarts, though' and he replies 'I bet they can', making Mary laugh. She tells Reginald she's going to get him a nickname.
During Herbology, she helps Reginald with his Gordyshot plant. After Herbology, Donovan approaches her, apologising for his behaviour over the last week and asks her on a date. She rejects him, telling him truthfully that she had other plans and had no interest in 'being a weekend project' of his. She then calls him a 'tart' to her friend, Lily Evans.
"The Trouble with Angels"[]
- "Mary Macdonald was only familiar with one very superficial kind of romantic love, and she knew no other brand. (Not yet)."
- — Who-Does-Mary-Really-Love?
Mary spends the train ride back home for the holidays with Martin-from-Slytherin, and she knows she could easily make him her boyfriend but she's not interested.
"Moments"[]
While at the Three Broomsticks, after Professor Black's service, she notices Mulciber, and possibly Avery and Snape, watching her.
A few days later, as she makes her way down the stairs, she passes by a group of Slytherins. Mulciber casts the Imperius on her but after a minute or two, Lathe stops him. After this incident, Mary avoids being alone, something she is embarrassed about because she feels like she doesn't belong in Gryffindor. While under the Imperius, she heard Mulciber's thoughts and feelings, causing her to believe that he's a death eater.
"To End a Year"[]
She runs into Reginald along the way and he walks her to Gryffindor Tower. As they chat, Reginald mumbles that he fancies Lily Evans. This bothers Mary immensely despite her being with Umbert Stebbins at the time and causes her to compare herself with Lily, making her slightly self-conscious. When they finally reach the entrance of Gryffindor Tower, she tells him that she's finally decided to call him 'Reg'.
Shelley, Carlotta, Marlene, Remus, Peter and James are sharing their summer plans in the Common Room when Adam comes down to ask whose Gobstones set is sitting on the desk. Soon enough, Lily and Donna join the group in trying to figure out whose set it is. After discovering that it's Damacus Weasley's, all of them; making up all of the sixth-years Gryffindors except Sirius, decide to play a game. An hour passes before the last sixth-year Gryffindor, Sirius, enters the Common Room. Initially, Sirius makes for his dorm but is eventually convinced to join by the girls.
Seventh year[]
"The Worst Day Ever"[]
- "Mary sighed. The firewhiskey still burned her throat—she really needed a chaser—and even the alcohol induced lightheadedness did not lift the anger and guilt and grief that had settled in the pit of her stomach.
- He had said he loved her, and she had said it back.
- "Worst day ever," she agreed."
- — Mary catches Stebbins cheating on her
Mary is sharing some gossip with her friends in their compartment when Shelley walks in, whom Mary hadn't recognised at first due to drastic changes in her appearance and personality.
Mary meets up with Stebbins in the toilet to sleep together. They both tell each other that they love each other before Stebbins leaves first. They spend the rest of the afternoon together.
As Mary walks out of the Entrance Hall with Marlene and Donna, she sees Shelley and Stebbins emerging from the staircase in the Entrance Hall. At first, she's glad that Stebbins is alright before noticing Shelley's lipstick on both of them and how they both retreated, looking guilty, when they spot Mary. Mary then starts shrieking at the pair until Lily forcefully steers her back into the crowd.
Mary continues shouting in the dormitory as she thinks about how he'd said he loved her hours ago and how she'd said it back. Carlotta enters the dormitory and tries to rationalise Shelley's actions but halfway through explaining that Shelley must have known about Stebbins, Mary remembers what Shelley had said in the morning and tells her that Shelley is going to try to sleep with James. When Shelley returns to the dormitory, Mary barks that there is no way that 'whoring bitch' is sleeping here tonight. However, Lily walks in at that moment and tells Shelley to ignore Mary and then to Mary, that they can have a sleepover since she has a room to herself.
At Counselling with Madam Keepdown, the class is assigned to pair up with someone they don't know well and Mary makes no effort towards finding a partner. However, Stebbins approaches her, hoping to talk, and she merely tells him to fuck off. Lily, who is nearby, tells him to leave and when Benjy Fenwick approaches them to clearly ask Lily to partner up, she nods her head vigorously at Mary and Benjy asks Mary to be partners.
Physical Description[]
Mary is petite with rich chestnut-coloured hair and large hazel eyes.
Personality and traits[]
She doesn't need much makeup and is described as quite flirtatious and rather bubbly. She is often only seen as the fun, happy, careless and occasionally friend. However, throughout the series, she becomes a character of hidden depth, often comforting and giving sound advice. It is revealed in Chapter 20: "Moments" that she can see Thestrals, indicating that she's seen and accepted death. She has average grades which seem to reflect her intelligence.
Mary doesn't like how she looked without makeup and thus, does her makeup every day, something she is very good at. Her daily morning routine includes Mary looking into the mirror and finding every imperfection that vexes her before putting on makeup.
Relationships[]
Marlene McKinnon[]
Mary's most notable relationship is that with her best friend, Marlene McKinnon. It is implied that Mary and Marlene grew up together in the same apartment building in muggle London. Marlene is often exacerbated by Mary's seemingly cavalier approach to the war and schoolwork, and her obsession with boys, however, they have a steadfast friendship, rarely arguing throughout the series.
Lily Evans[]
Mary also maintains a close friendship with Lily Evans. They have several classes together, and when Mary discovers Stebbins's infidelity, Lily allows Mary to stay with her in the head girl suite for several days.
Fellow Gryffindors[]
Mary maintains a casual friendship with the other Gryffindor students in her year, not seeming to be especially close to any of them. However, after Stebbins cheats on her with Shelley Mumps, a fellow Gryffindor student in Mary's dormitory, Mary begins to hate Shelley, often seen fighting with her.
Reginald Cattermole[]
Throughout the series, Mary begins a friendship with Reginald Cattermole, who it appears she is intrigued by. He is not her usual type of guy, however, she seems frustrated when during a discussion with him, he admits his feelings for Lily.
Regulus Black[]
Regulus and Mary dated in the past, a lot of feelings linger but where they stand officially remains ominous. While they may not be together anymore, they are considered as "soulmates".
After "the Life and Times"[]
It is believed by many that Mary will end up marrying Reginald Cattermole and have three children, Maisie, Ellie and Alfred, becoming Mary Cattermole, who we meet briefly in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at her trial before the Muggle-Born Registration Commission. Ron uses polyjuice potion to turn into Reginald, so that the trio can get access to the Ministry of Magic and they help her to escape along the way. Another theory is that Regulus and Mary eloped before the young black's passing.
For more information, read up on https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Mary_Cattermole.