Harry Potter Flashback: Here's a BTS Clip of Umbridge and McGonagall Being Besties

In the Harry Potter movies and books, there has never been a character more hated than Dolores Umbridge — the petty and tyrannical power-thirsty woman who managed to take over almost the entirety of Hogwarts in the fifth entry. Her false sweetness and ruthless brutality towards those who depended on her earned her that title.

Fortunately for the students, even after Dumbledore was exiled from Hogwarts, there were still a few people who were not afraid to stand up against Umbridge’s tyranny: Harry Potter was one of them, and the other was none other than Minerva McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor and the most wicked witch in the Wizarding World. The movies perfectly captured her hatred toward Professor Umbridge.

Despite their on-screen rivalry in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Maggie Smith and Imelda Staunton (the actresses behind Minerva McGonagall and Dolores Umbridge, respectively) were friends in real life — and sometimes, the two just couldn’t contain themselves and ruined takes because they were having too much fun.

Take a look at this great video compilation by Blooper Zone: aren’t these two besties just adorable together?

After watching Maggie Smith and Imelda Staunton fool around on the set together, we can’t help but feel a bit sad that in the movies, Staunton had to play such an evil witch. It would’ve been great if Umbridge was more like her actress, and most importantly, it would have us see Professor McGonagall have an actual friend.

After all, we all know that the strict and no-BS Head of Gryffindor was secretly (not really) the nicest person in the world who just couldn’t give up her act and risk losing control over dozens of teens she cared about. She could really use a bestie like Umbridge to sip on tea and ship their students between classes together.

Well, at least Maggie Smith herself had such a friend!