Written for:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments): Character Showcase, October - Minerva
One Character, One Prompt Challenge
Prompts:
(plot) Write about a parent and child.
(character) Isobel McGonagall
(word) screamer
It was official: Isobel was depressed. She no longer tried to deny it, sometimes getting lost in times of past and dreams of yesterday. She sensed her husband getting worried, the villagers speculating and her daughter's restlessness, but Isobel couldn't help the tears that overwhelmed her every now and then.
Oh, yes, she had given up her magical life for young love. There wasn't a day she wasn't grateful for Robert's presence and the great gift he'd given her: their precious Minerva. But honestly, as time passed, Isobel could sense the absence of supportive parents and understanding friends more and more. And the muggles that lived in their area? As if they could understand her. She scoffed at the very thought.
'Oh, hello, Mrs. Thomasen. I was just wondering whether you would like to discuss the intricacies of the Patronus charm over tea today?' Isobel giggled a little at the thought, imagining the religious woman's reaction to that.
From her crib, Minerva burbled happily, waving her chubby arms around wildly in a silent demand to be picked up. Isobel smiled weakly, supplicating to her daughter's desire. Minerva was the only thing keeping her afloat and Isobel would be damned if she let her daughter be left in want of something.
"Oh, Minerva. How long do I have left until everything goes awry?" She sighed wearily.
"Mama!" The five month old uttered the only word she knew, eliciting a fond smile from her mother.
"Mama! Mama!" Minerva giggled again, but her attention was focused elsewhere.
The caramel colored family cat - Carnelian - was prowling about, chasing a toy mouse Isobel had enchanted for him. Minerva cooed at him and the cat meowed, turning around to stare curiously at the oddity that was the newest McGonagall.
Minerva's mother had long since learned about her daughter's extensive abilities in all things magical, (levitating her toys and communicating with the cat being a few of them) but she was still amazed when things like that happened.
She had learned to appreciate her daughter as well, comparing her to the children in the village (although, if Isobel did say so herself, Minerva would always be spades more talented than them). Just yesterday, Mrs. Thomasen was talking about how children liked to make messes and shout their heads off at Minerva's age, and Isobel was grateful her daughter wasn't much of a screamer.
"I can already tell, love, you're going to be such a treasure ... such an amazing, amazing bundle of loveliness ... Oh, Minerva ... mama will always love you."