LIFE STORIES: MINERVA MCGONAGALL
Life stories: Minerva McGonagall.
Minerva McGonagall was born on 3rd march 1921, she was an only child. Minerva grew up in Godric’s hallow. Being the daughter of one of the richest wizards in Britain Minerva was brought up by a nanny then a mentor. At a young age Minerva played with three boys, Horace Slughorn, Alastair Moody and Albus Dumbledore. All three were at different ages. Albus was the oldest six years older, Horace five years and Alastair three.
When Minerva was five Albus went to Hogwarts. She didn’t want him to leave she remembered there last conversation.
“Don’t leave Al” she begged
“I’m sorry Minnie, but I have too. Horace will be going next year and Alastair in three.”
“I’ll be alone there’s no one to play with, mummy is sending madam Diggery away and she’s getting me a mentor who won’t let play all the time” she wept.
Albus sighed. They were standing in the meadow a few miles away, he bent down and picked up a daisy.
“Sometimes, life goes on. Your mentor will teach you how to write and read. You will discover many interesting things. Make new friends. Minnie we will see each other over the holidays and we’ll have a year together in Hogwarts.”
He gave Minerva the daisy. She still has that daisy pressed into the pages of her transfiguration book.
The next six years were hell. Minerva was taught reading, writing, sewing, multiple languages and basics in flying. Her teacher was strict and cruel, if she did one thing wrong she got canned. However she found an outlet, flying. She spent every free moment on her broom letting the wind blow through her hair.
When she arrived to Hogwarts she made three close friends, Pomona Sprout, Poppy Pomfrey and Romana Hooch. All three were different. Pomona was kind and sweet, who loved herbbiology. Poppy was loving and fierce, who was a mother hen. And Romana was temperamental and strong, who loved flying just as much as Minerva did.
She was sorted into Gryffindor. The hat considered Ravenclaw but decided her personality was overpowering. Poppy and Romana were sorted in Gryffindor too, while Pomona was sorted into Hufflepuff.
She sat next to Albus, after she was sorted.
“Al, can you believe it! I’m finally in Hogwarts!” she squealed
“Yes, yes Minnie. Now be quiet” he said dismissively. Minerva knew that she lost a friend that day.
The year went quickly and Albus escorted home. He knew something was wrong, normally Minnie was talkative but she was silent.
“What’s wrong Minnie?” he asked
“Don’t call me Minnie. Only friends call me Minnie.” She hissed glaring up at him.
“I’m not your friend?” he asked one eyebrow raised
“No. my friends are Horace, Alastair, Pomona, Poppy and Romana” she snapped
“Would you like to explain why I am no longer your friend”
“You ignored me. You see me as the little five year old. Let me tell you something Albus, I am an intelligent twelve year old and I will not be ignored by my friends” she said waving her arms around.
“Minnie, I was head boy studying for his NEWT’S , I didn’t have time to play-
“You see! You saw me as a five year old I don’t play anything but chess. Don’t call me Minnie, you can’t even call me Minerva! You will address me as Miss McGonagall. Goodbye Mr Dumbledore please send my love to your mother and sister. And say hello to Aberforth for me”
She then picked up her trunk and marched to the front door. Threw it open and yelled “I’m home”. She didn’t see Albus for a month. That didn’t mean she didn’t visit Arianna and Mrs Dumbledore. She didn’t see Albus up close till Mrs Dumbledore's funeral. She wore a thick black dress and her hair was pulled into a tight bun. She went home immediately after the service. She threw up, pulled her hair out and sobbed into her pillow. She loved Mrs Dumbledore as if she was her mother.
She had to wear the dress two months later. She was sent home with Horace and Alastair. She couldn’t believe that Arianna was dead. She decided that from then on she’ll be the best of the best. She saw Albus and Aberforth fight. She and Horace cleaned Aberforth up while Alastair looked after Albus.
Her school years were tough. But she did everything, she was Qudditch captain, prefect, head girl and on the honours list. She got outstanding OWL results and NEWT results to match. She registered as an animagus shortly after she graduated. She joined Alastair as an auror and fought in the war against Grindelwald at the young age of twenty-four.
Five years later she bumped into Albus again, it was at the ministry ball. She was dressed in crimson robes. Her hair in its usual tight bun.
“Miss McGonagall” he said politely.
“Professor Dumbledore” she curtsied
He quickly pulled her up and whispered “please Minnie don’t curtsey to me”
“I thought I told you not to call me that” she said tightly
“What happened to you? You used to smile all the time, your hair was always down in wavy locks” he said ignoring her comment.
“I grew up professor Dumbledore, now will you excuse me, my escort will be wondering where I got too” she said
“Please Minnie, meet me tomorrow for lunch, please I need to speak to you” he begged.
She looked directly into his eyes and saw desperation. “Ok” she said.
The next day, the lunch was interesting. Albus asked her to take over his post as transfiguration teacher, he was being made headmaster and he heard how talented she was. She accepted just like that. They became friends shortly, her, Albus and Horace. Pomona and Poppy shortly joined the staff as medi-witch and herbbiology teacher. Within two years Minerva noted the change in her friendship with Albus. It was almost like he was courting her.
And he was. The next month he proposed. She accepted without doubt. The months were busy with wedding plans, it was decided that Horace will perform the ceremony, Alastair will be best man, Poppy will be maid in honour and Pomona and Romana will be bridesmaids. It was a quiet ceremony Minerva wore a simple gown with red roses in her hair. She looked into his eyes and knew he loved her. He may not be in love with her but he loved her. This was to stop the women go after him.
But it became more than that within a year Minerva gave birth to a baby girl that she named Iris Arianna McGonagall (they decided to use her surname so Iris wouldn’t have the pressure) and two years later they had another daughter, Ivy Kendra McGonagall.
It was at that point Minerva truly believed that Albus Dumbledore was in love with her. Iris looked just like Minerva, with Albus’s eyes. The sparkly blue contrasted well with the black hair. Ivy however had her father’s red hair and her mother’s brown eyes. They were beautiful. Minerva decided that she and Albus made beautiful babies.
The girls grew up in Godric’s hallow. They were looked after by their godmother Romana till they went to Hogwarts. Iris was brilliant at potions and charms yet she was the bravest Gryffindor you could find, she caused trouble with Augusta Diggery true pranksters they called themselves.
Ivy was quiet, yet she was as brave as her sister. She was top in her transfiguration class just like her parents. She didn’t have many friends though she was close to alexandrite abbot a shy Hufflepuff.
The girls were different, when Iris graduated from Hogwarts she immediately joined the auror forces. Ivy however fell in love with Michael Potter, she got married and became a healer.
Before Minerva knew it she was a grandmother. James Albus Potter had inherited his trouble making skills from his aunt, his transfiguration skills from his grandparents and his eyes were defiantly Minerva’s. It made her heart sing with joy.
However that joy didn’t last long. Tom Riddle was gaining supporters, and causing trouble. By the time James was eleven Tom Riddle had permantatly become lord Voldemort and the ministry was getting worried.
James was happy, he played pranks with Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Minerva knew that James was an animagus, she saw the signs. She didn’t tell Albus this, it was her secret. Albus has his secrets, so he could have hers.
“Nana?”
Minerva turned to see her fifteen year old grandson standing at the doorway.
“Yes James dear?” she asked
“There’s this girl I like-
“Don’t you think you should speak to your father or your grandfather?” Minerva asked smiling
“I don’t think so, she’s quite temperamental, and well a bit like you” James said blushing.
Minerva’s smile widened “you want to know how your grandfather wooed me”
“Err yeah”
“I’m not quite sure myself” she said
“Oh”
“So who is this girl?”
If it was possible James went even redder “Lily, Lily Evans”
Minerva nodded.
The next two years things grew worse. Albus formed an order. Minerva joined along with Alastair, her friends refused too said it was too dangerous. It was late April when it happened. James was happy he had his friends and the girl of his dreams. A black owl flew in.
“Oh Albus” she whispered, Albus reached for her hand.
The owl landed in front of James, he opened it, and ten seconds later Sirius grabbed hold of it.
“NO! NO! ANYONE BUT THEM!” Sirius screamed. Minerva watched Remus and Peter hug James and Sirius.
James pulled away and ran out of the great hall. Sirius walked up to her and gave her the letter.
Dear Mr James Albus Potter
We are sorry to tell you about the loss of one Michael Andrew Potter (head of the auror division) and one Ivy Kendra Potter (healer). We will send a member of the ministry to sort out affairs.
Sincerely
Cornelius Fudge
Minerva fell to the floor sobbing, she felt Albus picked her up, and laid her down on a bed in the hospital wing.
“Please Minerva, be strong for James, be strong for Iris, be strong for me, I love you Minnie” he whispered in her ear.
But she couldn’t hear, she has lost her baby girl. Little Ivy who cared for everyone. The bloody murderer. When she gets hold off him she will kill him with her bare hands.
James graduated in early July, he hugged Minerva tightly “I’m engaged” he whispered.
“Congratulations” she whispered
James, Lily, Sirius, Remus and Peter joined the order of phoenix. Minerva begged them not to. But they did. James’s wedding was in November. Minerva sat next to Albus in the parents of the groom seats. Iris sat on her other side in sparkly blue robes. Lily looked beautiful. Minerva felt like someone stabbed her heart with ice. Lily and James looked like Michael and Ivy.
A year later Lily was pregnant. Minerva insisted that Lily should spend her last few months at Hogwarts as her teacher assistant. The summer holidays came and Minerva moved Lily to her home in Godric’s hallow.
On the 31st of July, Lily gave birth to a baby boy. Harry James Potter. Minerva was ashamed to say she was disappointed that Harry didn’t look like her youngest daughter. He did however look like a mixture of Lily and James.
When Voldemort fell from power she didn’t celebrate like her husband. She changed into her cat form, and sat on a wall waiting for her husband to arrive with her great grandson. She was furious when he left Harry with the Dursleys. He could have lived with us she argued we’re his family as well. The protection could have worked with us or Iris. But it had to a member of Lily’s family he always replied. So she visited Harry as a cat many times.
She grew angry with her husband over the years. She wanted to tell Harry about Hogwarts not Hagrid. She wanted to write letters and give Harry presents. The nearest she could get was sending him the nimbus 2000. When Voldemort came back and Harry was asleep, she sat next to him stroking his hair.
When Albus died, she cried all night. She laid there on the grass with Horace, Alastair, Pomona, Poppy and Romana just crying. She pretended to be strong for the other members of staff and for the students.
The war grew harsh, she lost her dear friend Alastair, many pupils that she called hers and now her eldest girl has been found dead. Her only remaining family has disappeared with is friends. She prayed every night that he was safe.
When the war ended she told Harry the truth. At first he was angry screaming at Albus’s portrait blaming him for everything. Then he repeated his seventh year. Then he became a seeker. And then he came back asking her to perform the ceremony for his wedding to Ginny.
At the wedding she looked at the couple and saw Ivy and Michael and James and Lily shining through them. She was there for the birth of James Sirius Potter. She cried her heart out when she heard about Albus Severus Potter. And wouldn’t let go of Lily Ginevra Potter.
She was the headmistress of Hogwarts, and when she looked back she remembered little Minnie. She sighed as she wrote a letter to Neville Longbottom asking if he was interested in taking Pomona’s position on the staff. People move on. Was all she could think of.
“I love you Albus. I love you my darling girls, and I love you James” she whispered
“I love you too Minnie” Albus’s portrait replied sleepily
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