"Hurry up Minerva. We have many more school supplies to pick up for you. Pick your owl so we can go get your robes and wand." Minerva heard her mother's voice as she looked at the owls. All were shuffling in their cages, some hooting nervously, some sleeping with their heads under their wings. She stopped in front of an owl with feathers as black as her hair. It was watching her curiously as she moved through the shop. She opened the cage, letting the owl perch on her hand. After stroking the owl's head contemplatively for a minute, she turned to her mother. "I want this owl. I'll call her Raven." Her mother laughed as she took the owl's cage up to the counter while Minerva and Raven went outside.
They sat on a bench outside the store, Minerva stroking her new pet and telling her all of her worries. "What if I'm put in Slytherin?" she asked, her light Scottish brogue adding a lilting rhythm to her words. "Mother would die of shame and Father would disown me." Raven hooted, nipping Minerva's finger. It seemed like she was saying, don't worry, everything will be fine. When her mother emerged from the store, she had to put Raven in her cage so they could go in the next shop. Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. She waited impatiently as she was fitted for her school robes, only concerned with getting her wand.
She practically ran out of the store, leaving her mother to grab the bags. "That girl," her mother sighed, "Needs to learn discipline." Years later she would shake her head at her serious daughter, wishing for the carefree little girl she used to know.
Minerva was waiting impatiently by Olivander's, wanting to enter, but knowing her mother wanted her to wait. They entered together, a little bell above the door ringing to let Olivander know that he had customers. "Ah," said a voice from the back of the shop. "I knew I'd see you here one day young Minerva McGonagall." Minerva smiled at Mr. Olivander as he came to the front of the shop.
He began to measure her, trying to get an idea where to start. He went through the shelves, picking up a few boxes that he felt would be suitable for the young witch. He handed her the first wand, but nothing happened. The second caused her to topple one of the shelves of wands over. The third and fourth caused her to break the shop windows. Minerva was getting frustrated now. With the fifth wand, she broke the chair that the tried wands were sitting on. About to give up, she picked up the sixth wand to try. Warmth spread through her body, and she waved the wand, righting the toppled shelf, and repairing the windows and the chair. "That's your wand, my dear," said Mr. Olivander as Minerva gazed at her wand. Her mother paid and they left, Apperating back to their home in Scotland.
