Title: Learning to be Minerva
Author: smalltumbleweed
Pairing: McGonagall/Hooch (Well, it's heading there eventually. In years & years.)
Rating: G
Summary: Snapshots of Minerva's girlhood, starting just before her first year. Part one of . . .?
Disclaimer: I make no money off this and own none of it.
A/N: This undoubtedly has elements of Minerva stories throughout the fandom because I swear I've read them all. The only specific thing I borrowed was the idea that she comes from a large family of sisters, and I took that from Debbie B
"Mum, please!"
"Absolutely not! What will your grandmother say?"
"Gram would say it's brilliant!"
"Eleanor!"
"Mum, please, no one at Hogwarts has long hair anymore. No one."
"Lucky for you Minna starts this year."
"Oh, lovely" Ellie's voice dripped sarcasm as she stalked off "you can aspire to look like your ten year old sister."
"Katherine?" her father's voice cut in. "He's almost here. Where have those little girls gotten to?"
"Heaven if I know what with Eleanor on about her hair all this time!"
"Aye, it's the age, m'love, nothing you can do about it."
Minna and Claire, hiding in their playhouse in the cupboard under the stairs stifled their giggles.
"Poor Ellie" Minna whispered.
Her little sister nodded and then wrinkled her brow."But, Min, you always look smart. Everyone says so. Especially today."
Minna shrugged and considered. She and Claire were dressed almost-matching. Her skirt and cardigan were dark blue with red rickrack trim, which matched the trim on her peter-pan collared blouse. Claire's was red with blue. Both girls wore plaits. "Well, but Ellie thinks she's terribly old now that she's in seventh year. And I suppose the big girls have more grown up hairstyles."
"Huh" Claire was unimpressed. "Ellie could pin up her braids if she's got a problem with them down."
"That's just it, though, I don't think girls do that anymore. Not in London."
"Well, Bridie McGregor has more beaux than any girl in the village and she still pins her hair up" Claire replied staunchly, as if that settled it and then added, "I'm always going to wear my hair long, and when I get big enough to go to Hogwarts and be Head Girl too, I'll still have it pinned in braids and I'll beat up anyone who slights me for it."
Minna giggled. "You can't go beating people up when you're a great girl like that goosey."
"Just watch and see!" Claire narrowed her eyes mock-threateningly.
"Then you'll never have a beau!"
"Didn't say I wanted one, did I?"
"No, but--"
"Minerva McGonagall, don't tell me you fancy any horrid boys!" Claire shrieked and then suddenly her ten-year-old eyes were serious. "Mins, you promised."
"I know! But one day, right? When we're really old enough. Not like Ellie, but you know, proper ladies."
"Oh that, huh! That's ages away. I meant," Claire paused "You know. You Promised."
"That has nothing to do with beaux, silly! And of course I remember Promising."
"Good, because if you so much as get near the slimey likes of Davey Fulton--"
"Ewwwwww!" Minna shrieked and shoved Claire, who tickled her. Claire was younger but stronger and had Minna pinned underneath her writhing with laughter. The girls' father was adamant about no fighting, but heaven help him if he could prevent the epic tickle wars. "Ha! I win again, Mins, say it!"
"You . . . don't . . . either" Minna gasped, stomach muscles aching from laughter, trying to wriggle out from under Claire. With an almighty heave she upset Claire, the upended wooden crate, both buckets they sat on, and their entire tin-cup tea service. Minna had just righted herself against the cupboard door when Claire lauched back at her, howling like a harpy. Minna's collar caught on the the cupboard latch, it opened, and both girls tumbled out into the main room still laughing.
They stopped short, though, as they rolled to a halt at a pair of exceedingly handsome black boots and heard a moan of dismay from their big sister. "This is absolutely the last straw. Oh, professor, I am so deeply embarrassed."
Minna looked up at the figure who belonged to the handsome boots. He was extremely tall. Taller, even, than her dad, with long auburn hair set off by his stylish suit of deep green velvet. No one had told her there would be a visitor today, so she did the only thing she could think to do. She leapt to her feet at once, fixed the stranger with her most winning smile, offered her hand and said "Please excuse the mess, Sir, I'm ever-so pleased to meet you."
"And I, you. Am I to presume you are Minerva?" He spoke gravely, but the twinkle of mirth in his eyes told Minna she had nothing to fear.
"Aye, I am!"
He beamed at her. "Miss. McGonagall, my name is Professor Dumbledore. I am the Professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts School. I shall be one of your teachers this year, and, rumor has it, perhaps your head of house as well?"
Suddenly shy, Minna just nodded. So this was her sister's big visitor, the one who was here to talk with her parents about her Head Girl duties. She had heard of Professor Dumbledore, of course, but she rather thought he would be more like Ellie-- proper, orderly, solemn-- and not so twinkly as her father.
"Can I get you tea, Albus?" her mother's voice broke in.
"Yes, thank you, Katherine" he replied graciously, moving away with her and Eleanor towards the sitting room.
"You know my reservations, Albus, what with--" but Minna couldn't hear the rest of what her mother said.
"Claire, Minna, come here" their father called. He sat down on the stairs and pulled one girl onto each knee. "That's no way to be carrying on, you know, in your traveling outfits with a visitor over." He reproved them gently.
"But, Daddy, we didn't know about the visitor!" Claire protested.
"Claire! You heard your mother this morning. Dress in your smart clothes for traveling, hair ribbons please, and no running amok outdoors, because we're going into London to get Ellie and Minna's school things."
"She didn't say no tickling!" Claire insisted.
"Are you going to force me to punish you, Claire?"
"No, Dad."
"I didn't think so" he chuckled. He never could lay a hand on any of his children, particularly these two, but occasionally he threatened. That it was an empty threat was an open secret, but they respected him for it, and it seemed to work.
"Daddy, can I ask you a question?" Minna sensed that the lecture was over.
"Quickly, Mins. Your mum and I have to have a serious talk with Professor Dumbledore."
"It's about Professor Dumbledore. Does he know Mum? Because he called her Katherine."
"We were all at school together" her father replied, smiling. "He was the year below us and a dear friend. Now. Take these, go find your big sister and share them, and ask her please to tidy you two up so you'll be ready to leave" he handed the girls three chocolate frogs. "No running, and if your shoes come back dusty or your socks dirty, I can't account for what your mother will do."
The girls giggled. "Thank you, Daddy."