#quodpod

Particularly notable is her courage in the face of loss and abandonment. She didn't flinch at single motherhood. Instead, she moved right on with Carol Danvers. After losing Carol the first time, Maria stayed strong, even though she was now raising Monica alone once again. She lost Carol again, and moved on by forming the Sword of Gryffindor, a special department in the Ministry of Magic, for dealing with threats from non-human beings. She fought terminal illness. And when her only daughter turned to ash, while Maria was still dying, she simply prepared for her daughters eventual return, even in the even she herself wouldn't live to see it. Not even Maria's hope was ever breakable. She knew Carol was "out there, too stubborn to die," and she was certain Monica would return, even after seeing her dissolve into ash before her eyes.

Schooling

Maria Rambeau was educated mainly at the American wizarding school of Ilvermony, where she and her bestie Carol Danvers both excelled and flying, and kicked ass on the Thunderbird Quodpod team. In the summer just before her fifth year, Maria made the mistake many teenagers do, and found herself pregnant with Monica. Her muggle boyfriend was no help, but Carol quickly stepped in as the other parent. Even so, Maria's puma patronus made sure to remind the dad to pay his child support, and send his daughter a birthday card.

In their seventh years, Maria and Carol were in a special flying class for students planning to join the Auror Air Force. But their instructor, Professor Marvellius, died on a secret mission, and Carol Danvers vanished. Maria graduated, and began her career as an Air Auror (an Auror who mostly patrols and fights from her broom).

Carol's Return

Though Monica was only two when she lost "Aunt Carol," the young witch had a remarkable memory from a young age--at least compared to a Muggle child. For a witch, she was about average. In any case, despite still being very young when Carol finally returned, Monica recognized her immediately and was ecstatic. Maria, on the other hand, had more mixed feelings. Carol was now a Kree Vampire, and like many, had lost most of her memories from her previous life as a Human. Maria helped Carol regain her past, in an adventure that took the whole family across the pond to Hogwarts. Though not really students, they were Sorted into Gryffindor anyway. Being a vampire meant Carol couldn't stay with the living for too long (as the blood cravings made her dangerous), and a bittersweet goodbye was made.

So why "Sword of Gryffindor," rather than "Claw of Thunderbird?" Partially because the Hogwarts Houses are more famous throughout the wizarding world, especially in the Ministry of Magic, which is headquartered in the U.K. Also, because during the adventure, Maria pulled the actual sword of Godric Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat, and killed some Kree Vampires with it. And because, as Maria and Monica already knew, the Rambeau family is actually descended from Godric Gryffindor. (Fact: most humans do not, in fact, resemble their ancestors from millennia ago.)

Patronus

Maria's chivalry isn't the flashy sort. Pumas, AKA Mountain Lions, are an underrated breed of large cat. Maria's forest-y army-fabric fashion, smooth short hair, and overall build also makes one think of a puma. They operate mostly off in the mountains, non unlike Maria off in her rural home away from most of the Avenger's action. Her daughter Monica's Patronus would come in the more intense form of a killer whale.