Carry my soul into the night, may the stars light my way

I glory in the sight, as darkness takes the day

Sing a song- a song of life -lived without regret

Tell the ones, the ones I loved

I never will forget

A/N:

~The McGonagall Family uses the Scottish Gaelic word 'Màthair' for Mother. In dialogue, this word will be used, but in regular text, it will not.

~In Profession of a Guardian I use the original dates for Minerva McGonagall before Pottermore happened; Minerva was born on October 4th, 1925 and she attends Hogwarts during 1937-1944 (like how it was before the dates were changed).

OZ-SPEED MY DEARIES!... wait.. wrong universe!

J.K. Rolling unfortunately owns Harry Potter... not me, though I do take credit for the OC's.

Chapter 1 - A Magic Beginning

Late May, 1930:

The doorbell rang thrice in a similar pattern, signalling that the guest knew about Magic, or could perform it. A little girl with long, nearly black hair, tussled with a few waves sat up when she heard the chimes. She placed her book, The Wizard of Oz, down on the coffee table and watched as her mother open the front door. The girl's emerald green eyes brightened the instant she recognized the visitors. Poppy Pomfrey, Rolanda Hooch and their parents.

Minerva quickly slid down from her chair and ran towards her friends, meeting them halfway with matching giggles and smiles.

"You ready, Min?" asked the beautiful young witch with golden hawk-like eyes that shone with excitement as her short bronze hair bounced with her head. Minerva couldn't help but giggle at her friend, but confusion slowly crept into her expression.

"Ready for what?" Her question didn't stop Rolanda's bubbling excitement, she was too busy bouncing up and down, so Poppy answered for her.

"Didn't your mum tell you? Aquae Lament, its finished! We're all going to see it!" Minerva tried to hide the pang of sadness she felt in her heart with a soft smile, but it didn't go unnoticed, especially by Poppy, the trio's apparent mind reader, "Ah well, I'm sure she meant to tell you, Min, don't worry about it. At least, you know now - Rola! If you bounce one more time I might have to tickle you!"

Rolanda Hooch froze in place. Her yellow eyes wide and face showing signs of horror. Tickling was her mortal weakness and Minerva had to muffle an outburst of laughter to keep the moment from being ruined.

"Come along girls, let's go." Minerva looked to her mother, now carrying her little brother, Malcom, who was nearing his first birthday. Isobel tousled his ebony hair and kissed him before walking down the hall with Rolanda and Poppy's parents following.

"Are you all right, Min?" Poppy asked, noting the change of emotion in her friend's eyes.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well then come on you two!" The hawk-eyed witch tugged at her sisters' arms gently. "If we don't hurry, Malcom's going to be the first one to see Aquae Lament!"

That snapped Minerva out of her solemn moment, a challenge she did not want to lose. Together, the three ran down the hallway after their parents. They came upon a rather unique door engraved with three family crests, along with a statue, shaped akin to a cat, standing proudly beside it.

"Password?" The stone's whiskers twitched as it mewed

"Gooseberries," Isobel said sternly. With a click, the door opened and everyone entered the stone passageway. It was dark, despite the multiple torches that seemed to burn endlessly, but that didn't stop the three girls from dashing ahead. They knew where they were going, even if they hadn't ever been there before. It was pure instinct and anticipation that guided them down the tunnel, complete with a few giggles that escaped their lips echoing around them. They began to see a soft light appearing at the end of the tunnel, illuminating the girls ever so lightly and increasing as they continued to run and could hear the ever growing sounds of water splashing down from the ravine like a muffled train, except somehow, more peaceful.

"Is that a waterfall?" Rolanda asked between strides.

"It must to be, 'Aquae' means 'water' in Latin, after all," Minerva pointed out with a humorous as-a-matter-of-fact tone. As the girls neared the end of the tunnel; an open archway, decorated with lovely wild flowers, welcomed them wordlessly. Natural sunlight shone brightly upon a lush open field complete with a small, and surprisingly loud, gushing waterfall. The spray from the falls caught the sun's rays, making them sparkle and shine; there were even birds chirping in the distance, singing their sweet early afternoon songs.

"Wow!" the golden eyed girl exclaimed breathlessly, still in taking the pure beauty of it all.

Hearing little Malcom's baby babbling echoing behind them, the girls giggled and rushed into the sanctuary. This place was built solely to provide the magical children that lived in Caluim, Caithness, a place to be free, play and experiment with their magic. The entire complex was unplottable by any Muggle, except Minerva's father, Robert. It was a place of magical freedom and security.

Minerva looked at Poppy, whose light hazel eyes glowing with the sun and her slight reddish brown hair gently waved with the breeze. She nodded, a smile making its way upon her lips. Minerva looked at her more reckless friend, who was bouncing up and down, bubbling with excitement and clearly ready to explode at any given moment.

Minerva smiled. "All right, Aquae Lament, show us what you got."

Rolanda broke into a half bouncing, half swooping mad dash to the water and she jumped into the water. Minerva and Poppy, giggling and laughing, joined their friend immediately.

As her body plunged into the magnificent water, she could feel a surge of energy spiking in her mind, then releasing itself into the beautifully cold liquid that engulfed the young witch. She opened her eyes and couldn't believe what she saw. The water extended for miles, the blue unending in its brilliance. A school of little colourful fish passed in front of her as several turtles swam underneath her, skimming along the sandy floor. She followed them, propelling her body through the water as if she was a fish herself. Coral reefs extended up from the sand, housing thousands of multi-spectrum aquatic life.

"Min?" Poppy's voice seemed to echo as distantly as the surface was above her. Minerva ignored it, and continued to swim free and effortlessly. She never wanted this moment of pure, blissful freedom to pass.

Minerva? Rolanda's voice echoed in her mind. She sounded scared and with great effort, Minerva made her way back to the surface. When she broke through, however, her lungs were on fire. She gasped in panic, breathing for air that wouldn't come fast enough. Choking and sputtering, her head spun as she felt herself retreat back under. She instantly felt two arms pulling and tugging, trying to bring her back to the surface as her mind went into panic. Another surge of energy emitted from her fingertips.

The water felt like it drained from her body in seconds as a breeze surrounded her and body became weightless. Opening her eyes, she saw the ground a few feet below her and three pairs of small feet. She glanced up. Poppy and Rolanda were floating in the air as well, their bodies suspended from gravity.

"Min! H-how did you-"

Rolanda burst into gleeful laughter. "This-is-wicked! Min, I don't know or care how you did this, just don't make it stop!"

"No! Put me down, down I say!" Poppy shrieked frantically.

"I don't know how! What do I say?" Minerva gestured her arms around as she talked. "Stop?"

The magic word. Minerva, Poppy and Rolanda landed with their feet firmly on the ground.

"Oh come on!" pouted the bronze haired girl with her arms crossed and beady eyes glaring daggers at Poppy. "You ruined it."

"You know I'm simply terrified of heights!" Poppy was still a bit shaken from the dreadful moment.

"Minerva!"

With a slight roll of their eyes, the young witches turned around, seeing Isobel running towards them.

"You were- how did you-?"

"We swam in the water, Màthair," the young green eyed witch tried to explain everything to her baffled mother. "I went under and saw these beautiful fish and sea turtles! There's coral down there, Màthair, and the water seems to stretch on for miles..." the young witch trailed her sentence to a halt, seeing her mother's look of shock. It wasn't common for Isobel to betray her emotions to her children. "What is it?"

"There are no fish in the water there, nor sea turtles or coral-"

"But I saw them! I swam with them! I-"

"Minerva!" Isobel interjected coldly. "I think you must have hit your head on something when you jumped and imagined those things because none of them exist in Scotland! Now, I want you three to run along and try not cause any more trouble."

With that, the woman left, leaving her daughter rather confused, along with the girl's friends.

"I didn't imagine them," she whispered sternly.

"We know, Min." Rolanda placed her hand on her shoulder.

"There's just one question," Poppy said softly, "Did you conjure them?"

Minerva shook her head. "If I did, then how would I have seen the water as if it was an ocean, going on for miles?"

"Good point. Well, maybe it's some type of illusion you created, half using your imagination from tales of the ocean and a combination of your magic then?"

"Poppy, you're a genius." Minerva embracing her friend.

"I know, I know, write me a memoir later," she said with a laugh.

"All I want to know is how you got us all to hover!" Rolanda's voice peaked with glee as she threw her hands in the air and twirled around like a ballerina in a tutu.

Poppy turned a pale shade of green. "Oh don't remind me, I might get sick just thinking about it!"

"Hey!" the hawk eyed girl exclaimed while suddenly turning around and grabbing Minerva by the shoulders. "Do you think we could learn how to fly brooms here when we're older?"

Monday, July 22nd, 1937:

Isobel McGonagall walked into the kitchen with the morning mail with her dark hair loose on her shoulder and glasses on her nose. Politely, she gave her husband the morning paper, then sat in her chair to sort the mail. Minerva detected a sharp inhale and looked up. Her mother's posture was stiff, her hazel eyes wide and mouth slightly open with shock.

"Something wrong, Màthair?" she asked before she took a bite of cereal. Her long, nearly black hair was tied up neatly in a bun and her soft green eyes kept a steady gave on her mother's face, searching for any clue for what made Isobel's mood change so suddenly. It was very unlike her mother to lose her stern grasp of emotions like that.

"No, nothing's wrong. I should have expected this, but actually receiving it is entirely different." Isobel glanced at her husband, refusing to look at her daughter for a moment. Robert looked up from his paper.

"So, Minnie has received her letter then?" he asked with a warm smile. Isobel nodded and gave the unopened letter to her husband. Robert adjusted his spectacles then took a look at it. Minerva exchanged a curious glance with her young brother, Malcom. He was three years younger than she, but despite the age difference they got along fairly well. They had depended on each other for so long; both helping the other to avoid any unintentional magic or speak about 'anything strange' around the Muggles, that they couldn't help but get along, especially once Cayden joined the family.

Malcom shrugged and went back to his breakfast while Minerva glanced at her five year old brother, who was nearly asleep and ignoring the family completely and with Cayden's headaches seemed to be getting worse as his magic began to form itself, he stayed silent most the time. She sighed, knowing very well that both boys had given up on asking curious questions.

"My letter?" she asked bravely. Her mother didn't like her children asking too many questions, but Minerva considered this an exception. Robert glanced at his wife one last time before he took his spectacles off and looked at his daughter.

"Yes, Min, your letter." He smiled again.

Isobel licked her lips. "Minerva, dear, you remember when I said that you'd eventually go to the school I did as a girl, where you'll be able to use your magic amongst other wizards and witches your age?"

The young witch nodded. Of course she remembered; she never ceased to ask her mother when she'd be able to attend, and in result got sent to her room a few nights for that.

"The school is called 'Hogwarts'," Isobel said as Robert handed Minerva the letter. She noted the seal of blood colored ink, it was addressed to her specifically and there was a unique symbol where Muggles placed their stamps. A badger, raven, lion and snake surrounded a golden 'H'. Minerva carefully opened the letter, not wanting to rip it so she may preserve it forever. Holding the first piece of parchment, she read the letter out loud.

Dear Miss Minerva McGonagall,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.

Yours sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore, Deputy Headmaster

Minerva looked up at her parents with a grin, her green eyes were shining with pure bliss.

"Dumbledore?" Isobel questioned. "He was the new Transfiguration Professor in my Seventh Year..."

The young witch skillfully ignored her mother's mumblings as she read the supplies list. "Where are we going to get all these supplies, Màthair? You can't buy any of this stuff around here, can you?"

Isobel almost laughed. "No, Minerva. We'll have to travel to London for that, in Diagon Alley."

"Will Papa, Malcom and Cayden be able to come too?"

"Of course, Muggle-born witches and wizards have their families come with them during their First Year purchases. I don't see why they can't come with us."

Excitement filled her veins. She felt like jumping up and down on her bed, something that she reserved for moments explicitly like this. Finally, she'd be able to associate with other witches, be able to use her magic at will, master every single detail there was to such skills and maybe, if possible, turn herself into a cat!

Wouldn't Gracie love that? She giggled to herself, Probably not, I've manipulated her mind to much. It would probably give her a heart attack to see me change into a cat like her!

"When can we go?" she asked with excitement.

"Oh, I suppose we can go in about a week, get the shopping done before we go on vacation to Loch Ness. It'll keep your mind occupied on not using your magic anyway. What do you say, Robert, darling?"

"A week sounds good, we don't want to keep her waiting too long." He winked at his daughter. "I'll make a few letters to free up my schedule and we can decide on a specific date from there."

Her mother replied, but the young witch wasn't listening anymore. She dashed from the kitchen and into her room with Malcom and Cayden following her.

"I'm going to be a witch! I'm going to be a witch!" She giggled with laughter and turned around. "And in a few years, you'll be a great wizard Malcom!"

"I don't wanna be a great wizard. I just want to be Malcom the Wizard."

"Oh, but you'll have to be great to be called that!" she teased. "Besides, why wouldn't you want to be great? You're already popular with your grade- and you Cayd, you'll be the best Quidditch player ever!"

"Quidditch!" Cayden began roaring like a lion, his favorite team's mascot. "I gonna be Scotland's Seeker!"

Minerva started digging into her random Halloween outfits that her mother had made over the years, pulling out a witch hat with two feathers on the side. Malcom shifted uncomfortably.

"I don't want to be great because I couldn't see Papa."

Minerva looked at Malcom with surprise. "Oh, for Merlin's sake, Malcom! Just because you're a great wizard doesn't mean you can't associate with Muggles! True, you can't show them Magic, but that doesn't mean you can't talk to them! Màthair's a brilliant example for that."

"But she had to give up magic, or at least most of it, in order to do so."

Minerva groaned playful. "You are such a downer! Here, put this on."

She tossed him a robe and a fake wand. He was reluctant put them on, yet once he did, he couldn't deny the excitement that rushed through his mind. The young witch grabbed another robe for Cayden then helped him put it on before she placed on her witch hat, simple emerald green robe and grabbed her fake wand.

"Let's go the Library, I bet we can find a place there to play Duel!" Malcom said, grinning as he and his brother raced out into the hallway. His sister laughed as she ran after them down the magically extended hallway and towards the McGonagall Library. The room itself was in no way shape or form small. It was actually enormous. Holding a staggering two-hundred thousand books, and counting. Twenty-five of them were added by Minerva herself, placed in the 'Muggle Books' section and she knew where each of them were placed by heart.

Sure enough, the three young children found themselves a section with plenty of space to 'duel'. It was a tradition among them to do it about once a week as Cayden sat on the sidelines, still unable to completely control his magic. Pointing their wands at each other, they'd shout stupid words like 'flamio', 'portapus' and 'watergo'. Only once or twice has their magic accidentally acted up and it was usually minor damage, like a random book or two flying across the hall, usually, nothing disastrous.

They began with a bow and a gleam in their eyes then pointed their wands at each other.

"Flying Cartail!" Malcom yelled.

The young witch spun around to avoid being hit by a 'spell' and flicked her piece of wood at her brother. "Monkey Flortoo!"

Malcom got on the ground on all fours and started making noises like a monkey. He jumped onto a ladder and bellowed. She laughed at his act, and had to admit, he made a pretty impressive monkey.

"Your turn!" her brother said with glee. "Corfius Catakitten!"

Minerva ran up a few steps of and other ladder, shrieked out a meow, then jumped off, landing on all fours and walking around triumphantly. Her little brother laughed as he slid down his ladder.

"Catapillrus... um-" she wanted another word to her 'spell', something that sounded fun, but dangerous. "Oh, Ventus!"

Instantly, a strong gush of wind flew out towards her brother, knocking him into a bookshelf. Books flew everywhere, most of them towards Malcom as the bookshelf toppled down with a loud thundering crash. Minerva's emerald eyes went wide with horror.

"M-malcom?" Cayden whimpered as both siblings rushed towards where their brother. The books had fallen on top of him, nearly covering the boy in a pile while the shelf, luckily, had crashed in the other direction. Minerva removed a few books from his chest to shake her brother. His eyes were closed and no response was received.

"Malcom, are you all right?"

She wanted scream, the entire thing had been an accident, but part of her knew how bad it would look to Isobel when she came in. She'd see the library in complete disarray and chaos.

"What in the Merlin's name happened in-" Her mother came running into the Library, though stopped short for a moment when seeing her darling son unconscious and under a pile of books. "What - did - you - do?"

Minerva started pulling the books off her brother. "I-I don't know, we were playing duel and I shouted-"

"Don't say it! I don't need you causing any more chaos than you've already created!" Isobel shrieked as she took Malcom from Minerva's hands and held him close to her chest. Tears formed under her mother's harsh words, but she blinked them back.

"Is everything all right? I heard a rather loud noise and thought I'd check to see if- oh, my..." Robert came from behind, seeing the destruction and books toppled everywhere.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything to happen, I didn't know-"

"That's precisely why I don't like you playing that game! You know that!"

"You know we can't help it! You have us suppressing our magic all the time and we love the game."

"No, Minerva, you love the idea of magic! You cannot use it here! Look at what destruction you've caused by your ignorance!" Isobel shouted at her young daughter. Robert slowly took Malcom from his wife's embrace, not saying a word. He didn't have a place in the conversation, or at least that's how he felt. He had no idea what it was like to have magic, thus thought his comments were always useless. He took his son out of the library and prepared to take him to the local doctor, calling Cayden to come with him.

"You've hurt your brother and made this ancient library a disaster zone, for Goodness sake! Never play with magic again, do you hear me?"

Minerva's entire body shook, but she refused to look at her mother with tears in her eyes as she uttered the defeating words. "Yes..."

"Yes?"

Minerva narrowed her eyes. The entire thing was unfair, she had no idea 'ventus' was a spell, and it scared her that magic could be so powerful and deadly. She had never lost control of her magic. Ever.

"Yes, Màthair, I will never play with magic again." She hated those words, 'play with magic'. She wasn't playing with magic, she was playing with what her imagination thought magic could do.

"Now, until we get back from taking your brother to the doctor, I want you to stay here and get the books back where they belong!" Isobel ran out towards her husband who was ready to leave.

Minerva fell to her knees, her fist clenched and a few tears leaked from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. It's always my fault. Every time something happens, I get blamed, no matter if Malcom or Cayden was the cause, I get the brunt of punishment.

Minerva sighed and trembled as she choked back sob. She felt a soft silky fur of the small familiar animal brush against her hand. Gracie.

"Hey there girl," she said sadly as she hugged the familiar grey kitty she'd known for most of her life. Gracie always seemed to know when she needed comfort. She didn't mind the odd hugs or swaying that Minerva made when cuddling with her, just as long as the girl felt better afterwards.

More tears fell down Minerva's cheeks, and finally, a sob escaped her. She hated living here, being an outcast at school with no friends. Everyone thought she was different, weird and a complete 'know-it-all'. At home, she was blamed for every magical problem that either she or her brother conjured, some that she had no control over, including poor Gracie somehow doing her bidding. She made sure to give the cat extra treats those nights.

Soon, the young, dark haired girl found herself asleep with the help of Gracie's purr, tears still streaming down her eyes and sobs still muffling in the back of her throat.

She awoke the the sound her her father's soft voice in her ear and Gracie slinking out of her arms, "Minnie, darling, wake up. I'm home now."

The young witch's brilliant green eyes immediately popped open and she sat up straight. "I-I'm sorry Pa, I dozed off and forgot..." she stopped talking for a moment, noticing there were no books on the floor, the bookcase was back in it's place and everything was just as it had been before the accident- not a single thing out of place.

"Forgot what, dear child?" He asked with a small smile and sparkling green eyes, clearly amused.

"...to go to bed?"

Robert chuckled, piecing together what his daughter was trying to cover up.

"I don't know how you did it, but this place looks as if nothing happened. You must have done something with your magic, am I correct? Oh don't worry, it'll be our little secret." He winked then offered a hand to help her up. Minerva decide not to tell him that she didn't know if her magic had fixed the library or not.

"Hungry?" he asked her as they walked out of the room into the hallway.

"Yes, Papa," she said softly, realizing how late the time was, nearly five in the afternoon.

"I should expect so. Come on, I'll make you something," Robert held his hand out for his daughter to take. She smiled briefly, accepted his offer and they made their way to the kitchen in silence.

"Papa, is Malcom all right?" Minerva asked quietly as her father put a pot of water on boil. Her father turned to face her and smiled warmly. His green eyes, the same ones she inherited, sparkled softly.

"Yes, Minnie, he's just fine. He had a bit of a concussion but he's awake now. Isobel will be home with him and Cayden by nine so don't worry, he doesn't have any injuries but a big bump on the side of his head."

The young witch let out a sigh of relief. "I didn't mean to hurt him or destroy the library Papa, we were just playing and-"

"I know, my dear. I may, however, not know much about magic nor how you wizards and witches control it, but I've read some of the books, and I do know that young children tend to accidentally unleash their magic."

"If you know that, then why does Màthair get so mad when ever I do something?"

"She's just scared of the Muggles finding out, dear."

Minerva didn't add her first thought on this, knowing she'd get in trouble for it. Instead, she changed it around slightly, "Is that why I'm going to Hogwarts?"

"To learn how to control your powers? Yes," her father answered a bit too quickly than Minerva liked.

She just wants me gone so I don't destroy something else. Silence came upon them until her dinner was ready

"Can I eat in my room, Papa?" she asked with a soft plea.

"Any particular reason why you don't wish to join your 'old man'?"

Minerva smirked. "No, I'm just tired. That magic blast zapped my energy I'd like to at least fall asleep in bed this time."

In truth, magic never tired her out, but her father didn't need to know that. She just wanted to be somewhere quiet and alone.

"All right, just don't tell your Màthair I let you. She'd hortify me, or something... what's the word you use?"

"Hex?"

"Yes, that's it. Go on and get some more rest, Minnie, you'll need it."

"Thanks, Papa." She gave him a hug, then grabbed her plate and went up stairs. Gracie met her on the top of the stairs. With a smile, Minerva gave her a rub on the head then continued her way into her room with the grey kitty following her as she went.

...and this 'officially' started on 11/11/11!

Profession of a Guardian (PoaG) has a lot of ground to cover before we even get into MMAD, however, if you stick with me I promise you'll be rewarded!
~LinK