Note: This was posted here a couple of months ago but I took it down and have tinkered with it a little. I have tried to take into account the Deathly Hallows but a lot of this was planned out months ago so I may not have been completely successful. No spoilers occur until chapter 4.
A huge big thank you to my beta, Aleta II Anon!
Beneath the Deep Depths of Green and BlueChapter 1
September 1945Minerva McGonagall shivered despite the roaring fire. She wrapped her arms around herself as she watched her lady-in-waiting, Braelyn, make the tea.
"There you go Miss Minerva." The elderly witch smiled, handing her the steaming cup.
Minerva held it between her dainty hands and stared dismally around her dark quarters – her prison. The faded tapestries hanging on the stone walls failed to keep the harsh autumn air out as a draught coursed through causing the candles to flicker, casting strange shadows on the dismal surroundings. She blew on her tea as Braelyn took a seat opposite the young witch in front of the fire.
"Tell me about my mother." Minerva whispered.
Braelyn slowly pulled her gaze from the burning logs and surveyed the witch in front of her with sympathetic eyes. Braelyn had been in her life ever since Minerva was born. She had watched the babe overcome her mother's death and many more trials to become the beautiful young woman before her. But Braelyn knew that behind the courageous façade still beat the heart of a young girl crying out for affection.
"She loved you Minerva, more than anything in this world."
Minerva was seven years old when Eilidh McGonagall passed away. It was an arranged marriage and Eilidh was some forty years younger than Harold McGonagall. When Minerva was born Eilidh poured her heart and soul into the cherished bairn but the same could not be said for Harold. He was a harsh man known to dabble in the dark arts. He was a powerful wizard never to be double-crossed. However unsympathetic he might be Braelyn suspected that somewhere deep down he had felt something for his young bride. She saw the pain that briefly flashed in his hardened, grey eyes when he dared steal a look in his daughter's direction.
Minerva was the spitting image of her lovely mother, all except for her hair. Minerva had long, thick, ebony locks just like her father. Braelyn believed it was her eyes that caused him the most anguish. Her deep green orbs had put many a wizard under a spell. Minerva's ivory complexion, porcelain features, ruby red lips, emerald eyes, slender frame and elegant poise were all her mothers doing. Her quick wit, acerbic tongue, sharp intelligence, stubbornness and lethal temper she inherited from her father. Her magical abilities and heart were all of her own.
"Your happiness preceded all else."
A shadow passed Minerva's countenance. Even the dismal lighting could not hide the change.
"This matrimony will not bring me happiness."
Her jaw clenched and her eyes hardened. She carefully placed the teacup down on a small table to her left then balled her hands into fists. Braelyn slowly lent forward and placed a tender hand upon her charge's knee.
"Hush, wee one. You must obey your father whether you like it or not."
In order to gain favour with the Dark Wizard Grindelwald, Harold McGonagall offered his only daughter's hand in marriage. Grindelwald had accepted and the ritual was to take place as soon as the Dark Wizard got back from his latest mission. Minerva's opinion was never asked as she was expected to abide by her father's wishes. And so it was she came to be in the fortress of Grindelwald, located on an unplottable island, surrounded by dark wizards and black magic.
The mere thought of the lecherous old man, soon to be her husband, made Minerva sick. She gripped Braelyn's hand tightly with both of her own and fixed the older witch with a gaze so intense Braelyn was forced to look away. The pain, pleading and despair evident in the green eyes clawed at her heart.
"I cannot follow through with this marriage. I would sooner turn a wand upon myself!"
"Minerva!" Braelyn scolded harshly. "Don't ever utter those words again!"
The two witches fell silent, the embers of the fire faded but the howling of the wind continued long into the moonless night.