If Hermione’s testimony had changed from last time, I’d have guessed that McGonagall was mouthing a spell or trying to Confound Hermione so she gave a different testimony under Veritaserum.
Since that isn’t the case, she was either trying to:
a) provide moral support for Hermione (“Keep strong” and such)
b) communicating something. If it’s this, then I strongly suspect that McGonagall is cooperating with future Harry in some rescue plan. She might be communicating a simple message like “Don’t worry” or “We’ll get you out” which would imply that she has some extra knowledge about how things are going to play out.
But what she told Hermione shouldn’t be very important as there was no way to know that Hermione, in her tired state, would understand the significance of whatever McGonagall mouthed.
b) communicating something. If it’s this, then I strongly suspect that McGonagall is cooperating with future Harry in some rescue plan. She might be communicating a simple message like “Don’t worry” or “We’ll get you out” which would imply that she has some extra knowledge about how things are going to play out.
Extra supporting evidence for this: McGonagall isn’t the sort of person who would give false reassurance. If she didn’t see any way to get Hermione out of this, she would say “keep strong.” If she’s saying “don’t worry” then Hermione has some reason not to worry.
Dumbledore says “if it is not dismissed soon, some of us may miss their entire luncheon”. That means the hearing is taking place in the morning. The earliest future!Harry can show up is 3pm.
Of course, she could have information from future!Dumbledore or Harry could have sent a note via Margaret Bulstrode.
If Hermione’s testimony had changed from last time, I’d have guessed that McGonagall was mouthing a spell or trying to Confound Hermione so she gave a different testimony under Veritaserum.
Since that isn’t the case, she was either trying to: a) provide moral support for Hermione (“Keep strong” and such)
b) communicating something. If it’s this, then I strongly suspect that McGonagall is cooperating with future Harry in some rescue plan. She might be communicating a simple message like “Don’t worry” or “We’ll get you out” which would imply that she has some extra knowledge about how things are going to play out.
But what she told Hermione shouldn’t be very important as there was no way to know that Hermione, in her tired state, would understand the significance of whatever McGonagall mouthed.
Extra supporting evidence for this: McGonagall isn’t the sort of person who would give false reassurance. If she didn’t see any way to get Hermione out of this, she would say “keep strong.” If she’s saying “don’t worry” then Hermione has some reason not to worry.
Dumbledore says “if it is not dismissed soon, some of us may miss their entire luncheon”. That means the hearing is taking place in the morning. The earliest future!Harry can show up is 3pm.
Of course, she could have information from future!Dumbledore or Harry could have sent a note via Margaret Bulstrode.