"Oh, I'll take them through the creatures that most often come up in OWL. Not much left to do - they've studied unicorns and Nifflers, I thought we'd cover Porlocks and Kneazles, make sure they can recognise Crups and Knarls, you know…"
-- Professor Grubbly-Plank during her inspection by Dolores Umbridge (OP15)
Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank is an elderly witch with closely cropped gray hair and a very prominent chin who teaches Care of Magical Creatures.
Professor Grubbly-Plank was the supply teacher (US: “substitute”) who covered for Hagrid when he was indisposed after Christmas break (January 1995, GF24) and again when he was off negotiating with the giants (OP11).
Grubbly-Plank knew a lot about unicorns and seemed – to Lavender Brown and others of Harry’s year – like a particularly good teacher compared to Hagrid, who had devoted most their class time looking after Skrewts (GF24).
Grubbly-Plank covered classes for Hagrid at the beginning of the 1995-6 school year and also took the first years across the lake (OP10, OP11). She smokes a pipe and uses a monocle. When Hagrid wasn’t available, Professor Grubbly-Plank nursed Hedwig back to health after she was attacked delivering mail to Harry (OP17).
Skills
Good with unicorns and owls
Commentary
Etymology
Wilhelmina means "a great protector" (feminine of the Dutch/German name "Wilhelm") and grubby means dirty. A good Care of Magical Creatures teacher would be all about protecting animals and not bothered by a bit of dirt either.
From the Web
Writing by J K Rowling on Pottermore: Hogwarts School Subjects
Pottermore feature: Magical Creatures Quiz
Harry Potter Wiki: Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank
Pensieve (Comments)
Tags: animals gray information knowledge learning substitute teaching tradition
