It was strange, Bonni Ethel McGonagal beleived, that such an ordinary girl as herself should be subjected to the strangness of the Mcgonagall family. what that strangness was, it appeared out of reach, vague and more than anything else something speculated about but not understood nor explained. Afterall Bonni was a quiet girl, with mousy hair and green eyes and a spattering of freckles dancing across her nose, perhaps her most intregueing feature, she was not particularly smart or spectacular in any way. The mystery remained a secret. She was not the kind of child associated with anything remotely interesting. Her father, Michael, a tall no nonsense man with a strict belief in a lack of anything strange in the world drove on down the country lane listening to the cricket on his radio. He was happy, excited even, to see his family but as always went with trepidation. Much to his chagrin the family enjoyed filling his childrens' heads with folklore and stories of magic. Much like the book nestled on her lap as they bumped along the old road towards her aunt's house.

Her mother had fallen asleep hours ago along with the small fox-like dog in the seat between her and her obnoxiously loud brother, Ben. Her father laughed at something he shouted. "Are we there yet?" Her brother whined louder this time - cutting across Bonni's favoret character: The young devishly clever Oswald as he declared war on the cave Trolls.
"No," Her father replied. "5 minutes."
"UHHH!" Ben slouched in his seat, crossing his arms. "Why do we even have to go to this anyway?" He yelled, Sparrow, the dog flinched and crawled over to Bonni.
"Hey! It granma's 90th. It will be fun." Her father answered as the pup plopped her head onto Bonni's book making it impossible to read so she settled for stroking her soft grey fur. "Suck it up Ben, your stuck her for now and you have to try to be polite."

The bumpy earth road changed to crunching gravel as the banged up BMW slid in beside the other cars. "look's like we're the last here." Michael said before gently shaking his wife. "Honey, Amelia. Wake up. We're here." She woke with a snort. She was a short women, kind at heart but paired with a deadly temper. Curly dark hair inherited by Ben.
"ok, ok." She opened her door, reached between her feet for her hand bag. "lets go."
Bonni grabbed the dog's lead and the dog before she leapt away through the door.
Bags were dragged over the gravel drawing grooves as Bonni and Sparrow made their way to the grass before following inside.

The tall oak door was cold against her fingers as she pushed it open. The house was a huge country manor but it was more than that. In the after noon summer sun it was almost as if people sat at beautiful white tables laughing and chatting in big silk dresses in the unmistakeably silent garden only slants of silver sunlight crascading through the canopy of weeping willow and oak as company to the unsettling atmosphere. Now broken as the familiar voices of the Mcgonagall family danced along the cold hallway from the parlor. Yes - it had a parlor. and the first rule of the parlor. No dogs. But Aunty Minerva's dumb cat was allowed in. Same with the library and the bedrooms. One would think Minerva hated dogs. The beautiful huge stair case went from floor to floor around a point, she paused looking up at the skilfully painted gold sun symbol on the ceiling of the third floor before she peeked around the parlour door and saw everyone I expected to. Grandma Isobel, turning 90, Grandpa Robert, Uncle Malcolm along with a mess of cousins and their children. My father was the youngest of the four siblings, Minerva the eldest followed by Malcolm and the deceased Robert Jr. "Bonni!" Her grandmother welcomed her as her grandchild hooked the leash over the stairs railing and walked into the warm embrace.
"H-hello." The second the small pup was left alone she started barking and whining until Bonni had finished her greetings and sat in the door way where she could reach the dog. "Where's aunty Minerva?" She asked quietly. Although the woman was an intimidating figure, their love of books had brought them closer. Despite their lack of communication other than passing books and the occasional; 'this book is good,' even if what they had meant more along the lines of; 'this book is the most beautifully crafter masterpiece I have ever read!' They were almost friendly.

Her grandmother smiled, "I don't know dear, she'll be here eventually."
Speaking of which her cat crawled along one wall behind the sofas, eyes narrowed at the gathering in her house.
Ben had already integrated himself amongst the gaggle of young boys, her cousins' children as they argued of the Lego box one family had brought of the train set one of the cousins had brought for his children, an older, the only one older than Bonnie, was slouched in his seat next to his father. Green eyes glaring at her across the room, she looked away. The cat hissed when it saw one door blocked by Bonnie and the dog before exiting through the door from which it came. Moments later conversation of politics flowed through the parlour, "Excuse me." Broke the chatter and Bonni jumped, locking eyes with the towering green-eyed women above her. Even Sparrow seemed to sense something strange about her and didn't make a fuss.
"oh! Sorry," Bonni shifted out the way as she stalked into the room.
"I see you have arrived Michael," she said as he stood, forcing her into a hug. He was after all; her baby brother.
"Minerva, it's good to see you." He smiled pulling back as she stiffly returned it. "How have you been."
"Good, and you?"

When dinner was served, by a cook never seen, the family moved into the dining room, gathering around the long thin wooden table, walls painted with intricate design. Huge windows looked out onto the lawn, crusted black around the edges. Curtains a dull red and limply tucked back. The room was grand but had an obvious air of history. Another oddity of the place. The house felt too still as sunset faded, it was meant for more activity, more energy. The room glowed orange from the candle lights and tiny Chandelier. "Too good health," Isobel McGonagall raised her glass, eyes crinkling. "and to all my family." The elderly woman looked around the table, green and wise. Once a beautiful girl she had become an ancient figure head of the McGonagall family and could be seen waved a stick around chanting mumbo jumbo and had been labelled mad by Ben.

The cold night air was fresh against her face, as always the food had been amazing, sparrow had eaten her dinner in the kitchen out of sight and now came outside for 'hurry up'
Bonnie couldn't bare leaving the light of the house behind to venture into the shadowed garden, instead using the long training lead for her to run back and forwards after crickets and evening bugs before they headed inside. Minerva stood at the bottom of the grand stairs. "Bonnie," She greeted. "I've changed my mind. Sp-your dog may stay with you and your brother in your room." She gazed with green eyes, weighing each word.
"R-really?" her niece smiled. "oh! Thank you aunt Minerva! Thank you!" The girl changed from going to the kitchen to bouncing up the stairs, as she turned at the top of the first "Thank you... again?" Aunt Minerva had gone, her cat trailing into the parlour, its tabby coat silver from the moon glittering through the windows.
Her brother was fast asleep in his bed. They were sharing one of the servants old quarters at the top of the house. He was already snoring. She lifted Sparrow onto her white duvet as she snuggled under it. She finished around in her bag for a treat and only found a teething bone.

She woke up with a furry butt in the face in a dark room, red curtains glowing from the dawn. Her brother was still passed out, he could sleep for England.
Down stairs the house lay in silence, the garden brushed down with dew and sparkling in the morning. The car had been left open and I grabbed the old football and kicked it across the grass, letting Sparrow run free and tear away after it. "Look who it is?" A brash voice yelled from the house. Striding across the gravel and then the lawn was Tirrian McGonagal. 14 year old brat. His black hair was slicked back. "Little miss book worm." He snarled. Bonnie stepped back. Apprehensive pooling in her gut. "Who and that dirty little dog."
"Don't call her dirty." Bonnie yelped, "she's not."
"Is too," He shoved her slightly. Leering down at her. She trembled. He was 3 years her senior and a lot taller and bulkier. She stumbled, backing away quickly, Sparrow would dribble the ball back soon and Tirrian would kick her like he did when his family visited in the spring. Aunt Minerva's cat watched from the steps of the house, green eyes narrowed as if with interest. Bonnie stared down at his shoes, "l-Leave me alone!" She whispered, he chuckled and stepped closer, "Leave me alone." His laces lashed together and at the next step he crashed to the wet grass at her feet, she leapt back in fright. He was on his hands not a second later, drawing something from his pocket.
"Why you..." He brandished a stick in her face. "You troll faced..."
"Enough!" Aunt Minerva was stalking over the grass, black robes fluttering. "Tirrian, Inside!" she barked. Snatching the stick off him. His eyes widened and he nodded quickly, rushing back to the house just as Sparrow nosed the ball from the trees ignored when she barked to play. "are you ok?" The elderly women asked. Her voice uncharacteristically soft.
"yes," she answered, turning to call to Sparrow. "I'm f-fine." but she wasn't really, no when she had so many questions but not a way to phrase them.
His laces, they had been neatly tied, and then they latched together, she was sure. Minerva had been no where near them, even if she saw from a window she couldn't have gotten there so fast. Her cat had now disappeared as it always did when she turned up. They were never together.
"Breakfast will be in an hour," She spoke, breaking Bonni's thoughts, "I'll speak with Tirrian."
Breakfast, she thought. Made by the unseen, unknown and unheard cook most likely. She watched as Minerva drifted away towards the house. She appeared like a ghost, and then left suddenly. A mystery. And Bonni knew she liked a good mystery, almost as much as the idea of magic. At the Breakfast table she made an effort to sit next to her aunt. She wanted answers.
"Aunt Minerva," She started politely, the tilting of her voice offering a question. The women peered down her nose at her, "What do you do for a living?"
The woman's eyes crinkled in a smile but the rest of her face remained void. "I teach English Literature." She answered. Other conversation flowed away from their own,
"oh, Where?"
"Cambridge," She answered. nothing mysterious there.
"I see," Bonni murmured, she had hoped her first question would open up more but she was at a dead end. Moving her beacon across the white and gold china, "I've never seen anyone cooking around here." She remarked, not as a manipulative way of dragging information from their reactions but only as an innocent question, "Where does the food come from?" Her father's head snapped up across from her, green eyes wide. He offered a lopsided smile when she frowned at him. Minerva sighed, "I have a cook, lovely lady she really enjoys it."
"Why have I never seen her."
"Bonni!" Her mother hissed from next to me, "Its rude to be so nosy."
"Nonsense dear," Surprisingly it was Minerva who spoke, "Curiosity is a good thing."
"Curiosity killed the cat," her mother muttered darkly, a women bent on rules and manners.
"But satisfaction brought it back," Her aunt countered before turning to her niece, "Lottie is very shy," And that was that. The cook, Lottie, was shy. Minerva worked in Cambridge teaching English and the cat was just weird. Oh and Tirrian thought she was afraid of sticks because for the McGonagall family, this was normal.

She stayed outside with Sparrow for most of the day, she didn't want to be anywhere near the house. She needed space to think but she got no where. Everything about her family was weird. The birds above sprung free from one of the trees and took to the air for a flew fleeting moments before landing back into a beech tree. Sparrow let out a few screechy barks, A large tawny bird flew over head. Small beak, short body, round wings. A buzzard - no not stream lined enough. It was an owl! something was tied to it's leg. Bonni watched as it flew behind one of the chimneys of the house and didn't reappear. An Owl! In the middle of the day! Less than an hour later it flew back the other way, whatever was on its leg was gone.

she was snooping in the library after dinner, Tirrian leaned against the door frame, "Oy, Troll face." Bonni jumped. "I'm in trouble because of you and that mutt." He growled nodded to Sparrow who had curled up and fallen asleep. He stomped forward.
"Don't!" Bonni ran in between, the dog looked sleepily from its place on the floor. Suddenly, and rather unexpectedly Tirrian was hit in the face by a book. He looked at the shelf sharply. Bonni just as surprised. He stepped back, before scurrying from the room but not before he pointed at his eyes and then hers in an obvious; I'm-watching-you.
She bent to pick up the book, dusting off the spine. In gold lettering; Muggles, was crafted.
Muggles? What's a muggle?
She placed the book back into it's shelf and left the room, not bothering to pick up Sparrow's lead. She was getting very good at following along at her heels. with one spooked look over her shoulder, she hurried into the Dining room.

The cat leapt up the steps. Sleek and fluid in motion. Up past each floor, into the attic and then through a tiny door, opened only with a quiet password. It part of the attic, an opening hatch in the roof hidden by the chimneys and sloping roofs she flicked a small leaver and with a creak the hatch opened with a cloud of dust. One of Dumbledore's owls sat outside, a rolled up parchment around one scaled leg. It was easy to untie, even as a cat. She carried outside, she crouched listening. That dog was outside the door, sniffing between the wood and carpet floor.
"Sparrow!" Her niece had called the dog away, the password was uttered again and the little door swung open. The hallway empty now. She turned towards the study on the first floor, by the time anyone saw her carrying the letter she was human again.

Minerva sat at breakfast, the letter had warned her what would occur tomorrow at dawn and she was not surprised. Her expectation had been proved correct. As she crossed her knife and fork together on her place she rose. "Michael? A word?" The man raised an eyebrow, "Malcolm, you too." Another eyebrow joined the first before he heaved a loud sigh as he stood, Malcolm following.
"Right, what did the dog eat?" He asked jokingly as he followed her out but Bonnie didn't missed the confused look both brother shared as they followed their sister.
"I-I'm going to take Sparrow outside for a moment." Bonnie mumbled, "Excuse me." She left the table, Sparrow trotting after her. They would've gone to the study. Her denim bag bounced against her hip.

Half way up the stairs she scooped up the little collie and proceeded up. Stepping over the creaky step and careful not to be seen. The door to the study was closed, quiet voices drifted under it. As she got closer her father spoke, "She can't be Minerva!" He sounded angry.
"I've seen proof myself. And Dumbledore's letter only agrees. I've seen her use it."
"If she really has then she'll have to go to Hogwarts."
"Of course." Minerva agreed.
"Bonni is not one of you! I didn't inherit, why should she?"
Bonni gaped outside the door, ears stretching to grasp every bite of information. Her uncle, Malcolm, sighed. "Michael, you grew up in our world. You know of muggle borns and you know it skips generations. It's not strange should she be one. Ben too."
"I'm not against her being one. But what about Sparrow, what about her friends. She'd have to leave."
Bonnie shrank, Leave? Why? She moved to crouch, leaning against the wall, moving her satchel into her lap with Sparrow, who had started to struggle.
"I could make arrangements for Sparrow." Minerva murmured. "if students are allowed cats, owls, toads and other small pets why her? Mother bought her the pup in Magical Managerie, why let her keep it if you didn't think even for a second?"
So Aunt Minerva didn't hate dogs? sparrow came from a pet shop called Magical Managerie ?
"What makes you so sure?" Her father no longer sounded angry, just tired.
She heard her aunt sigh, "When Tirrian and her argued in the garden this morning she made him trip. His laces miraculously tied together, when he confronted her in the library he got hit with a book. She did not mean to do it. It's instinctual - but it is there Michael. We have to find a way to break this to her slowly. It can be a shock."
Bonnie stood and hurried down the stairs, people in the kitchen could be heard movie. Her mother would check on her soon so she had to be outside like she said she would be.

Minerva sat behind the desk and lay the letter out for the two men to see, they leaned over while their older sister leaned back having already read it. She had not been surprised and she guessed neither had been Michael no matter what he said on the subject. Dumbledore's writing danced along it as they red.

Dear Professor Minerva McGonagall,

It is with great pleasure I inform you that your niece; Bonnie Ethel McGonagall
is indeed a witch and shall receive her invitation to Hogwarts tomorrow morning.
I will leave it to you to explain this to her and her family if I am right in believing
that her family is Muggle. You shall then guide her to platform none and three quarters.

Yours sincerely Albus Dumbledore.

Michael groaned, leaning his head onto both hands. "What do I tell her?" He asked.
"Give her the choice to go." Minerva offered, "her magic might be dangerous if it has no controlled outlet, exploding lightbulbs, flying plates. Our family hasn't got a gentle history in uncontrolled magic. Send her to Hogwarts, Michael." He looked into the wise eyes of his sister, wanting to turn her down simply because he wanted to take his little girl away. "I'll take care of her." She added. Her father slowly nodded and that was all it took for their brother to speak up.
"Minerva is right, don't worry Michael, Tirrian will be there to watch out for her as well!" Michael glared at both his siblings, they were older by more than 10 years, Malcolm had 3 grandchildren - one older than Bonni and so they all still saw Michael as a child. He deflated,
"Fine!"

Trying not to cry, Bonni kicked the football across the grounds. Sparrow racing around after it. The gardens stretched for miles and soon the house was a distant memory and she could think. Leaving. She was going someone because she had inherited... something? She was glad she always had her satchel on her, she tied Sparrow to the tree with the very long training lead while she climbed it. Settling in a low fork and pulling her book free from the denim satchel. Opening at page 304 while Sparrow barked below. She dropped a spear treat for the dog. She didn't want to think about leaving. She would just read for today.

With a start, she was dragged from sleep but Sparrows barking. She must've drifted off. Luckily she had a safe spot in the tree. Aunt Minerva was making her way across the grass. "Your late for lunch." She stared down at her, her black dress and robes made her look surreal in the ghostly stream of sunlight falling through the branch. She snapped to attention.
"S-sorry!" She climbed down, scuffing her jeans against the bark and scratching her hands. Untying the lead. As they walked back to the house, Sparrow ran backwards and forwards as Bonni kicked the ball in front of her, Minerva breathed. Just as Bonni was about to present her own question she asked first.
"so, how much did you hear this morning?"

-
The main (My Original) characters from this chapter:

Bonni McGonagall - protagonist
Tirrian McGonagall - Bullies Bonni, full of himself. Bossy but very protective.
Sparrow - Bonni's pet.