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A/N: My second installment! Considerably longer and hopefully more entertaining than the first part! The drama is coming, people, I promise! Please R/R! Thanks!

And Only Time Will Tell -2

Oddly enough, Minerva's favorite room in the house was the kitchen. It was a large, inviting room with plenty of windows to let in the soft winter sunshine. On this particular morning, her mother was cheerfully bustling around the stove, which looked no worse for the wear after it's little adventure. Mrs. McGonagall, a friendly, if somewhat plain looking woman, glanced up at her daughter as she entered the kitchen, still pulling a thick wool sweater over her head.

"Good morning, pet! Sleep well?" she asked, giving Minerva a quick kiss as she passed her.

"Fine, thanks, Mum." Minerva replied as she sat down and the battered old kitchen table, watching her mother stir a sweet smelling mixture that was bubbling away on the stove while simultaneously cracking two dozen eggs into a immense mixing bowl.

She liked watching her mother cook - Mrs. McGonagall took pride in the upbringing of her large brood and was always baking or mending or looking after someone. She was a perpetually cheerful woman - always telling stories or singing little songs while she worked. Minerva often wondered at her mother's constant energy and blithe spirit - she doubted that she would ever be able to raise so many children and remain so genuinely happy about it.

"Your brothers were at it again this morning, bless them. I was absolute furious - especially after the lecture your father gave them all last night - but, I have to admit, I do rather miss it when you're all off at school . . . it gets far too quiet around here." Mrs. McGonagall sighed and wiped her hands on her apron. Minerva grinned.

"Just wait until the end of vacation, Mum, you'll be dying to send us back."

"Never." replied Mrs. McGonagall firmly. "You and your brothers could stay here till your old and gray as far as I'm concerned - I'd never get tired of having you all around. You'll understand when your a mother someday." Laughing, she sniffed and wiped her eyes with a dish towel. "Right then, I'm not going to get all sentimental about things. God knows, the boys could all be expelled from Hogwarts tomorrow and then where would we be?" she rolled her eyes.

"Where are the boys?" Minerva asked. The house seemed oddly quiet now, no doubt a sign that someone was up to mischief.

"I sent them out back for awhile. Why don't you go and call them in, breakfast is nearly ready."

Minerva slipped on her cloak and hurried out the back door and around to the side of the house. There was a gully there where the yard sloped down towards the road, and if she knew her brothers, they'd probably be staging a snowball fight in this well protected battle zone. As she crossed the yard, a tremendous slushball sailed passed her head at break -neck speed. Minerva gasped as the missile narrowly missed her and went crashing into the side of the house, nearly breaking an upstairs window.

"Adian!" she called, knowing all too well who the launcher of that particular snowball must have been.

"Wasn't me!" an indignant voice called to her from somewhere behind a large oak tree. Fourteen year old Adian was a beater for the Griffindor Quidditch team, and prided himself on his tremendous upper body strength.

"Better watch out, Minnie, you're entering the line of fire!" another voice called, young and husky from the cold.

"Very funny, Sloane, if you hit me with anything you'll live to regret it!" she cried in a warning tone. She was answered with a round of boyish laughter, surrounding her on all sides.

"Mum wants you all to come in for breakfast. Greggie, I see you up in that tree, now get down and come inside!"

"Ah - Min, I was just playin' with ya!" Gregory drawled as he jumped down from the tree, landing nimbly on his feet beside his sister. Gregory was thirteen years old and entering a 'difficult' phase. His practical jokes seemed to be causing a lot of grief both at home and at school, but Gregory seemed blissfully unaware of the trouble he caused. A genuinely funny and likable boy, he was popular among his peers and one of his sister's favorites. Not that Minerva would ever admit to playing favorites - she knew the kind of trouble that caused. No, she loved each and every one of her siblings equally, no matter how bothersome they could be.

The boys obediently abandoned their hiding places and charged towards the house.
"Last one inside's a filthy squib!' crowed Sloane, who had just turned twelve and was the youngest McGonagall child attending Hogwarts. Ten year old Preston and seven year old Tully still had a few years before joining their older siblings at school.

The boys let out a whoop and doubled their pace. Minerva rolled her eyes and followed behind them sedately. Malcolm and fifteen year old Willard slowed down slightly, waiting for her to catch up.

"Min, have you heard from Ian yet?" Willard asked. Ian Kensington was Minerva's beau of 5 years - they'd been a couple since their second year at Hogwarts when Malcolm had introduced them. Minerva shook her head at Willard's question.

"He's visiting his aunt in France over Christmas break, so I don't know when I'll hear from him next."

" I was just wondering. His sister - you know, Emily - she's . . . well, I was just - just curious . . . " Willard stammered, a pink flush creeping into his cheeks. Malcolm grinned.

"Ooo- Willis, better get ahold of yourself there, boy. Wouldn't want to be up to any trouble now, would ya?" Willard turned an even brighter shade of red. Minerva smacked Malcolm up side the head.

"What was that for?!" he cried, rubbing the back of his skull.

"I don't think she's dating anyone, Willis. Do you want me to ask?" Minerva asked, ignoring Malcolm's moans. Willard shook his head quickly, terrified at the very thought of his older sister talking to his crush.

"No - no, that's ok Min. Please, both of you, just don't mention this to anyone, all right? Especially the rest of them," he jerked his head in the direction of the house. "I'd kill them if they ever said anything to her. Please?" he looked longingly at his brother and sister.

"Well you know your secret's safe with me. It's this big mouth you should worry about." Minerva elbowed Malcolm, who was now very innocently studying the distant horizon, trying to keep a straight face.

"Malcolm, please . . ."

"What's that then?"

"Mal, I'd die if she knew! Stop being so bloody stupid!"

"You'd like me to ask Emily Kensington if she fancies you?"

"You're a real arse, you know that?"

"At Quidditch practice? In front of the team, then?"

"Malcolm, you really are a supreme ass." Minerva interjected in defense of her younger brother. Malcolm threw his hands up in the air in exasperation.

"What - can't anyone in this family take a joke?! Surprising, since we've got a bunch of foolish twits for brothers!" he sighed heavily. " I'm not gonna talk to her, Willis, you can keep your shirt on."

Willard rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Good," was all he said, turning towards the house.

"But I might tell Aidan to make a move on her - he's a right tiger, that one!"

"Oh, go to hell, Malcolm!" Minerva laughed, following after her younger brother.

Ever since Minerva could remember, the McGonagall household had been filled with pets. Their father thought that raising animals would teach them all some responsibility. His plan, though noble in theory, had not worked out so well in practice. The house was constantly teaming with creatures of all kinds, most of which were in some state of disarray. The older boys often brought home rats and toads they'd acquired at school, and used them to practice their 'homework.' This meant trying various summoning charms, color changing spells, and hiccuping hexes on the poor, defenseless things. Mrs. McGonagall was forever yelling at the boys to leave the animals alone.

Despite their behavior towards these 'pocket pets', as Gregory liked to call them, the McGonagall children did take good care of their other animals. Minerva had a cat named Athena, given to her by her grandmother on the day she became an Animagi. Malcolm also had a cat, named Achilles, although he rarely paid it much mind. It's unofficial owner was Tully, who loved animals of all kinds, and who often hollered at his older brothers when they were practicing stupid tricks on mice and other creatures.

The McGonagall's also had a goat, cleverly named Goat. Morgan, who was now 18 years old, the eldest McGonagall child, had named Goat when he was three, and Goat had been an esteemed member of the family ever since. In the spring and summer, the boys let Goat run wild over the moorlands, where he could eat his fill of the sweet grass and frolic on the craggy hillsides with the sheep. In the winter months, Goat was confined to the large barn out beyond the garden fence. Occasionally, when Mr. and Mrs. McGonagall were not around, the boys would let Goat come inside and run up and down the huge staircase in the front hall. They enjoyed this game almost as much as Goat did.

Later that afternoon, while Minerva was trying to memorize some complex antidotes for Potions class, a loud commotion from the front hall made her stop and lift her head from her book. Her mother had gone down the road to have tea with her best friend Millie McKenzie, and Minerva was left in charge of making sure the house was still standing when she returned home.

"Get that goat out of the house!" she hollered down the stairs, not wanting to move from her comfortable seat by the fire.

More crashes, followed by a frantic shout, moved her to her feet. She was headed down the hallway towards the staircase when another scream and the distinct sound of sobbing made her stomach flip-flop. Tears meant disaster. She ran towards the noise.

"Minerva!"

When she reached the top of stairs, the first thing she saw was Tully lying on the floor at bottom, sobbing uncontrollably. Willard was bending over him, trying to calm him down, but the little boy was hysterical. Across the front hall, Adian, Gregory and Sloane were trying to restrain Goat, who was bucking violently, apparently having some sort of fit.

"What happened?!" Minerva cried, rushing to her baby brother.

"Goat's gone mad!" Gregory shouted, still trying to hold back the wild, snorting animal.

"He tried to get Tully!!" Preston shrieked fearfully, ducking behind Willard.

Minerva took a deep breath, pulled out her wand, and pointed it at Goat.
"Stand back!" she shouted at her brothers. With a flash and a pop, the wild Goat suddenly became a fuzzy, sniffling gopher, who began scurrying across the floor of the front hall.

"Someone grab it!" Gregory commanded, and the three boys raced after it. Minerva turned her attention to Tully, who was still lying on the ground, sobbing gustily.

"Tully, what happened? Are you all right?" she asked, bending over him.

"He hit me! He hit me!" the little boy screamed, his hands covering his face.

"Where did he hit you?" Minerva asked, trying to remain calm.

"My eye!"

"Let her look at it Tully." said Willard, glancing from the injured boy to his older sister, trying to decipher the worried expression on her face.

"No!" Tully moaned, turning over on to his side, his face still buried in his hands.

"Come on, Tully, I'm not going to touch it, I just want to see if it's all right." Minerva said, trying to hide her nervousness. If her baby brother was blinded while in her care, she might as well start packing now. Her parents would never forgive her.

"It is all right." Tully's sobs had died down somewhat, but he did not remove his hands from his face.

"Hey, now Sport- you're all right then." said Gregory gently, coming over to stand by Minerva. He was holding the wriggling gopher in his hands. "Goat didn't mean it - don't know what's got into him, Min." he added quietly to his sister.

She nodded her head, kneeling beside Tully on the floor. The little boy had stopped sobbing - he continued to snuffle into his hands while his siblings stood around for a moment, staring at him.

"I only want Kitty." he sniffed, and the other boys exchanged a knowing look. Tully loved to horse around with his older brothers whenever he could, but he didn't like cry in front of them. Respecting his wishes, Aidan said quietly,

"Let's take the - er - Goat out to the barn. Come on, boys." they followed in his wake.
Tully continued to sniffle in silence for a moment, before moving his hands from his blotchy face.

"It's all right, Tully, come here," said Minerva gently, opening her arms to him. The little boy scrambled into his sister's embrace, burying his face in her shoulder.

"Shhhhh . . . " Minerva soothed, holding the trembling child in her arms. Relief flooded through her - at least he wasn't blind.

"Why did Goat come after me, Kitty, I was just playing with him. Like I always do," Tully sniffed,wiping his nose on the back of his hand. Minerva pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to him.

"I don't know, Tully, but it's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong. Although you boys really shouldn't have let Goat in the house in the first place." she made a mental note to yell at the older ones for this later. Really, they should have known better.

"He likes to come in the house." Tully said quietly. He was calm now that the older boys were gone, and puzzled by the strange behavior of his beloved pet. Minerva was rather puzzled herself. Lately Goat hadn't wanted to do much of anything besides eat and sleep and lie about in the garden. Something about the whole situation left her feeling uneasy. She would have to tell her parents about this - something needed to be done about Goat.

"You're going to tell Mum and Dad, aren't you?" Tully said, watching her carefully. He often startled Minerva with statements like this - it was almost as though he could read her mind. Definitely some potential for Divination in this boy - perhaps he was a true Seer, unlike that big phony Sybil Trelawney from Hufflepuff house.

"I have to. Suppose Goat is sick, Mum and Dad will know what to do to make him better." she explained, although she could see from the look on his face that he wasn't really buying it.

"What if they try to send him away?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly at the very thought of losing Goat.

"They wouldn't do that," Minerva said gently, praying that he wasn't about to start crying again.

"But what if they do?" there was a look of earnest worry in his eyes and it tugged at her heart.

"Nothing bad is going to happen to Goat, Tully. I promise." she said, giving him a hug.

It was the first promise Minerva McGonagall ever broke.

Twilight began to settle over the countryside, and the McGonagall household was unusually quiet. Upon her arrival home, Mrs. McGonagall was informed of the incident with Goat, and was rather baffled by the whole thing.

"Imagine - Goat going after Tully! I can't even fathom it! Oh, thank goodness you were hurt, darling, I don't know what I'd do!" she pulled Tully into a tight embrace, and he promptly wriggled out of her grasp.

"Goat didn't mean it, Mum. He was just scared."

"Scared? Of what?" Malcolm asked. The boys glanced at each other, shrugging innocently.

"What was the animal doing in the house in the first place?" Mrs. McGonagall demanded, whirling on her older children.

"Ah - Mum, we didn't mean it - he likes to come in the house and play. He doesn't get enough exercise out there during the winter!" Sloane pleaded, but Mrs. McGonagall was not to be trifled with.

"I don't care!! Goat stays outside and thats an order! Really, I don't know what you boys are coming to . . . " she fumed, banging down a large frying pan on the stove. Preston jumped.

"What are you going to do, Mum?" Gregory asked quietly.

"That will be for your father to decide," she said darkly as she began preparing for dinner. "Now I suggest you all go find something quiet to do until he gets home."

Minerva retired to her room to make a second attempt at her Potions homework, but her mind kept straying back to the events of the afternoon. Realizing that she wasn't about to get any work done, she put her books away and went off in search of her brothers.

They were all in the parlor, nervously trying to occupy the time until their father arrived home from work. Malcolm and Willard were play a solemn game of wizard chess beside the fireplace, while Tully and Preston sat watching over their shoulders. Adian was sprawled across the sofa, polishing his battered old broomstick. On the floor beside him, Gregory and Sloane were going through an old edition of the Daily Prophet, drawing beards and moustaches on the various magical photos, who scurried from page to page trying to escape their pens.
None of the boys glanced up as she entered the room, but after a minute, Sloane asked quietly, "What do you think Dad's going to do to us, Min?"

"Oh, it's not your fault, boys. You shouldn't have been playing with Goat in the house, but you didn't make him go . . . go . . . " she struggled to find the correct word.

"Crazy." Gregory offered.

"What do you think's wrong with him?" Preston asked in a trembly voice. Malcolm shrugged.

"Maybe he's just old, and sick and tired of you nutters chasing him about all day long. It'd be enough to drive anyone crazy!"

"You didn't see him, Malcolm. There was something wrong with him." Adian put down his broom and looked up at his older brother. "His eyes got all - I dunno . . .strange. Like all of a sudden he didn't know who we were or something. When he turned on Tully he looked about ready to kill him."

"Couldn't have been that serious, Tully doesn't have a scratch on him." Malcolm observed, glancing over his shoulder at his youngest brother.

"Well . . . that's cos Greggie hit Goat over the head with a chair before he attacked him." Sloane piped in.

"No wonder he's off his rocker! You great twits have probably been giving him brain damage for years! Hitting him over the head with a chair!" Malcolm cried.

"It wasn't a very big chair! Just one of those spindly ones Mum keeps in the front hall!" Gregory said defensively. Malcolm snorted.

"Well that makes it better, then. So long as it wasn't a big chair!"
"It wasn't Goat!" Tully cried so suddenly that even Malcolm and Gregory stopped their bickering to look at him. He was staring into the fireplace with a strange expression on his face. "Goat would never want to hurt me! It wasn't him!" he turned his gaze towards his sister. "It wasn't!"

"Sure you didn't hit him over the head?" Sloane said under his breath, but Minerva ignored him. She was concerned by the look of fear in Tully's eyes. The boy was clearly terrified of something - but what about the dumb, docile pet Goat could have possibly frightened him that much?

"It's all right, there, Tully. Goat's all right." said Malcolm distractedly, turning back to the chess game.

"No he isn't! Something's very wrong with him!" Tully insisted. His little face was turning pink with frustration. "Why don't you believe me?!"

"We do believe you, brother, it's ok." said Gregory kindly. "Dad's gonna take care of Goat, you'll see. Why don't you come here and draw pictures with Sloane and I? Here, you can have this one!" he tossed Tully the Halloween edition of the Daily Prophet. Tully caught it reluctantly and joined his brothers on the floor.

"Check mate, you sucker!" Malcolm crowed.

"Play me next!" Preston insisted, trying to shove Willard out of the chair.

"You ruddy cheater!" Willard gasped.

"I did not cheat! Minnie, did I cheat?" Malcolm demanded, calling his sister to his defense.

"Probably." she said absently, flopping into an armchair by the fireplace. She suddenly felt very tired, and her head was starting to pound again.
Malcolm sputtered with outrage. "I - I did not!!! What have I done to deserve grief from you lot?!!" The boys laughed at him, as he ranted on.

" My own brothers - my clansmen, turning against me at every possible opportunity!! No one ever listens to Malcolm - 'don't talk to Malcolm, he's just a crabby old git!' And my sister," he fixed his gaze now on Minerva, "my twin sister, the one person who's supposed to know me better than anyone . . . " he paused, struggling for words.

"Are you quite finished?" Minerva asked dully. The boys snickered.

"See! There it is right there! I'm trying to express my feelings of frustration in an open and positive manner, and what words of encouragment and support does she give me? 'Are you quite finished?' Well, I'll show you finished!" he moved to pounce on her, but Minerva quickly drew up her knees.

"Malcolm, don't! I'm not joking, I have a headache!" she said sharply. The expression on her face made him back off.

"What's with you and these headaches?" Aidan asked, frowning slightly.

"Yeh, you never get headaches." said Gregory.

"Well, except for yesterday," Sloane pointed out reasonably.

"And today."

Malcolm was grinning devilishly at her now. "You haven't been wearing them, have you?" he said with a quiet chuckle. The other boys immedately leaned in to hear better. Minerva bristled.

"Haven't been wearing what?" she asked, massaging her temples.

"Oh, you know perfectly well what! I should tell mother on you, I should." Malcolm went on, perching himself on the arm of her chair with a knowing smile on his face. The boys simply couldn't resist.

"Tell Mum what?"

"What didn't you do, Min?"

"Tell us, you can't keep secrets around here!"

Minerva was now glaring at her brother. Malcolm pointedly ignored her, the silly smile still plastered on his face.

"No, I'm not going to tell them. I'm going to be a good brother and defend my sister, respect her wishes," he got up and began a slow amble around to the other side of Minerva's chair.

"After all," he went on, " if she wants to keep it a secret that Madam Hester is making her wear glasses, well who am I to betray her secret?"

"Glasses!"

"When did you get glasses?"

"Do Mum and Dad know?"

"I've never seen you wear glasses!

"Where are they? Put 'em on!"

"Malcolm - I'm going to murder you!" Minerva growled, but Malcolm simply wandered towards the other side of the room, whistling innocently.

It was true, the nurse at Hogwarts had given her glasses after she'd been complaining of headaches over the fall semester. She was supposed to be wearing them for reading and any other kind of close distance activity, but the truth was Minerva absolutely hated them. She thought they made her look too severe and prissy. Ian had said they made her look "smarter", which she didn't really take as a compliment. She knew that Madam Hester had sent a note to her parents informing them of the situation, but she was hoping they'd forgotten. Now that the boys knew, she was as good as caught.

"That's not such an interesting secret." mumbled Aidan, going back to his broom.

"Minnie, if you just put them on for us once, we won't tell Mum about it, we promise. Right boys?" Gregory turned to his other brothers, who nodded in solemn agreement.

Minerva sighed, knowing she was beat. Reluctantly, she took the pair of wire rimmed, square spectacles from her pocket and put them on. She waited, flushing slightly, for a reaction.

"They make you look . . . mean," Preston said finally. No one seemed ready to argue with him.

"Do you have to wear them all the time, Kitty?" Gregory asked gently.
She shook her head, trying to control the tears that lay just beneath the surface. She didn't dare look at Malcolm, for fear of what she might do. She couldn't remember the last time she was so angry. She swallowed hard and took them off.

"Now you promised not to tell Mum." she said quietly. The boys nodded.

"You lot better not break that promise, understand?" Gregory said, casting a warning glance around the room.

Further discussion was interrupted by the sound of the front door banging closed.

"Oh shit," hissed Sloane, looking positively scared. "Dad's home."

*Ooo! Suspense! What will happen to Goat the goat? Will the McGonagall boys survive Christmas vacation? Who WILL survive Christmas vacation? Does anyone out there care? Will this story ever become interesting? Where is our beloved Harry Potter? - so many questions, to be answered at a later date! Like it or not, another installment soon to follow!*