***This takes place during the Marauder's time period. Maggie is the same age as the Marauders. Her father is unknown at this time, might change it and might not. Minerva has been teaching at Hogwarts for about seventeen years now. Minerva is 40, Maggie is 16 in the beginning of this story. Will include flashbacks in later chapters! Please excuse any inaccuracies, although I did seriously try to work out the math lol! I own nothing, all belongs to the incredible J.K. Rowling.
Minerva McGonagall peered down at her sleeping daughter, admiring the stern look that she had passed down onto her beloved. Even in her sleep, Maggie McGonagall looked as though she might jump and hex someone should they disturb her. Her curly black hair sprawled almost majestically across her red pillow, the rest of her athletic body gracefully resting on her Gryffindor themed bed. Even though the girl was sixteen, she still considered her her own baby.
Minerva carefully pushed a strand of a dark curl behind her daughter's ear as she allowed herself a small smile. Of all the accomplishments in her life, all of the awards for her works in Transfiguration, of all her accolades in Magical Law Enforcement, and even her praise in being the best Hogwarts Professor of her age, Minerva felt her heart burst with pride while peering down at her greatest accomplishment.
The woman she had raised was a powerful witch, but not just powerful. No. She was supremely fierce, loyal and empowered to correct a wrong if need be. Yes, this was her greatest accomplishment: a witch who would help aid in securing a safe future for their kind.
With a small flutter of her eyes, Maggie woke up, her sharp green eyes looking around the room in a frenzy.
She had been having night terrors ever since Eugenia Jenkins resigned from her position as Minister of Magic. The dark days had been trying for everyone involved in any part of the wizarding world.
"Just a dream, love," Minerva comforted her daughter, quickly moving to her bedside and sitting down next to her daughter. She gently brushed her dark hair back away from her face. Sweat beads adorned her daughter's now scared face. The confident look that Minerva had been admiring on her daughter whilst she slept was now gone and replaced with fear. "Shh, shh."
"A dream," Maggie muttered, sitting up ever slightly, while staring off into her dark room. Even though she was sixteen, she still did not ask her mum to remove the charmed night light from her bedside. A small bit of comfort clouded over her as she noticed the colorful dragon floating around near her bedside, the calm red and yellow colors of the night light soothing her ever slightly.
Minerva gently grabbed her daughter's hand and smiled comfortingly. "A bit of tea usually aids in bad dream recovery. Interested?"
As Maggie and Minerva sat down at the small wooden kitchen table they shared, no one spoke. Only the sound of tea sipping could be heard.
"Releasing what your dreams gave to you might aid you in sleeping better," Minerva began, while sipping her tea slowly. "Stubbornness is not quite the same as courage. The two are often confused, but as any daughter of mine, I should hope you can spare your pride for a bit of wisdom, Maggie."
Maggie always found her mum's wordplay both irritating and comforting. She released a small smile while taking one more sip of tea. "I wonder where the stubbornness might come from," Maggie quipped with just a twinge of playfulness.
"Elaborate on the dream," Minerva more ordered than requested.
Maggie sighed dutifully, as she knew there was never any arguing with Minerva McGonagall. She ran her creamy long fingers, which had been so skillful in being a Seeker, though her hair. "I suppose everything with the Dark Lord has had me a bit on edge," Maggie confessed hesitantly. Minerva did not pry, as she knew her daughter would elaborate more freely if she was not backed into a corner.
"These times are frightening even for the bravest amongst us, my dear," Minerva offered softly. "Fear is not something to run from, only something we can overcome day to day."
Maggie nodded fervently. "I know that just as well as you do, Mum. But the dreams…they are so detailed, so realistic. You know I share the same feeling as you toward Divination but I can't help but feel a bit perplexed by it all. Can dreams sometimes foreshadow what is to come?"
Minerva pursed her lips and thoughtfully replied, "Dreams are dreams, Maggie. If they were meant to dictate large parts of our lives, they would be willed into existence, not left in the dark crevices of our psyches."
"Mum, literality is not a virtue right now," Maggie half laughed, half sighed as she wrung her fingers through her tea mug carefully. "I just can't help but feel helpless. I am learning as much as I can, as fast as I can and as best as I can but I still can't help but feel as though it isn't enough. I want to be out there already, helping defeat Him. I don't want him to come into my dreams anymore." Maggie admitted quietly.
At her daughter's quiet confession, Minerva rose from her seat across the table and went to embrace her daughter.
"The young witch I raised fears no man," Minerva reminded her with a kiss on her now tangled dark hair. "And certainly no dark wizard. In due time, you will find your place to aid in this war, Maggie. I am sure of it. But until then, please just remain still. And calm. And in my arms…how I've missed this." Minerva said thoughtfully as she embraced her daughter with more force.