Special thanks go out to my lovely, best friend, Kayla who reads my stories and tells me how good (or bad) they are without mercy. Also, thanks to lucky1961 for commenting and LillyPheonix, nofearonlylove, and Elli6 for adding my story to their favorites or subscribing to alerts.
Also, I know it's a little slow right now, but just wait 'til the school year picks up. The Chamber of Secrets is a terrifying time for a muggle born witch and all those that care about them.
Disclaimer: I'm not J.K. Rowling. I don't own any characters from Harry Potter. I don't own Hogwarts or anything from any of her books or movies or head. Just making it clear one more time: I'm not J. K. Rowling.
Minerva glanced to her large grandmother clock and smiled. It was about time for her to head into the kitchen. The professor had decided on making Shepherd's Pie for both of them and that would take awhile in the stove without the assistance of a wand. Growing up in a house where her father was very interested in muggles forced her to learn a thing or two about the way muggles live. Minerva had simply found that cooking the muggle way was very therapeutic.
Glancing down at her current attire, Minerva shook her head. This was professor attire and there was a student in the manor, but she really didn't think it was necessary to wear proper clothes right now. Her tartan emerald robes were a bit bulky and a light pair of tartan trousers and a blouse would be much more comfortable. Certainly, that wouldn't be inappropriate in her own home.
Professor McGonagall made her way up the stairs, but found herself distracted by the door across from the staircase. It wouldn't hurt to check on the child. She transformed into her animagus form of a little tabby cat with square spectacle markings where her golden frames sat as a human. Minerva then silently walked into the room, peaking up at the bed.
A strange whimpering sound could easily be heard and this puzzled the cat. She had trouble seeing her charge from the floor so she carefully jumped onto the bed only to find the young girl flailing her arms. She transformed back into her human form and reached a hand out to the girl, lightly grabbing her shoulder as she whispered, "Hush, hush, lass. You're fine. You're safe. Miss Wyte, you need to wake up." Growing nervous, Minerva gently shook the girl. What else was she to do? The girl wouldn't wake up and she was clearly having a nightmare. A sense of urgency began to seep into Minerva's heart. "Miss Wyte! Wake up, lass." Minerva again shook the girl, taking a blow from the young girl's arms as she continued to flail. Though it stung, this didn't deter Minerva in the slightest. "Annabelle! Come on Belle."
Finally, the girl shot up out of sleep and she looked around, scanning the room in terror. As her eyes settled on the elder witch, she shook her head, ignoring the tears that were beginning to overflow. "Oh! Oh, Professor, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep. I'm so sorry."
Minerva didn't ignore Annabelle's tears though. "Miss Wyte, there is no need to apologize for falling asleep." She shook her head, mimicking the girl's actions. "If you are tired, then you sleep. You don't need to be sorry." She noticed her hand was still holding the girl's shoulder and quickly withdrew it. "Now, would you like to tell me what you were dreaming about when I woke you up?"
Annabelle shook her head. "No, ma'am. It's not important." As Minerva quirked an eyebrow, Annabelle sighed. "Professor uh…McGonagall, it's really not important. Don't worry about it, please." Her eyes pleaded with the stern professor and more tears leaked from the same forest green orbs.
Minerva wrung her hands, slightly nervous around the child. She only remembered how her mother had comforted her when she was little, but she also didn't think she had the right to touch Miss Wyte at this point in time. After all, they'd only just met this morning. "Alright, well it's approaching noon. Would you like to get something to eat?" Maybe a little food would help Belle loosen up a bit. The professor hated seeing a child so upset, especially because of a nightmare. She knew how bad nightmares could be, and she only dealt with them so well because of Albus. If Minerva didn't have him to comfort her at night, she didn't know what she would do. "I can cook for you or we can go to Diagon Alley and eat in town."
Annabelle wiped away any evidence that she'd been crying and tried to smile. "Lindy brought me food earlier, but I am getting a little hungry again." She blushed a little and dropped her gaze to her lap, catching sight of Minerva's hands in the process. Why was such a regal woman nervous and why would she offer to cook for Annabelle? Annabelle always did all the cooking at her home. An adult cooking was a foreign concept to her. "I think I'd like to go to Diagon Alley." She smiled a little, but quickly caught herself. "Um, I mean, if that's okay with you." Belle didn't want to cross Professor McGonagall already.
"Of course! We can pick up your school supplies while we're in town, as well, if you'd like. We can have lunch and then I can let you explore Diagon Alley a little while." Minerva caught herself grinning again and fought to find her stern composure again. "I'll let you finish getting ready while I go freshen up." Minerva got up, awkwardly patting the young girl on the knee as she got up. Upon entering her room, she sank down at her desk and pulled out a quill and a piece of parchment.
Albus,
I told you we have a visitor, and well, that's true. We've also decided to go out to lunch. If you'd like to meet us in Diagon Alley for lunch, we'll be heading that way in about half an hour. I'll explain everything later.
With love,
Min
Minerva let her great horned owl out of its cage and tied the letter to its foot. "Alright, Theo. Take this to Albus for me, but don't bother waiting for a response." She then slid a hand down its head and back, letting it enjoy being pet for a moment before she opened her window, letting Theo make his way outside.
Meanwhile, Annabelle was sitting in her room, slipping a pair of boots over her calves. She tied them up to just below her knees and let her jeans fall back over them. She hadn't even bothered to put shoes on before leaving her little house in Dundee. After running a brush through her hair, she walked and stood at her doorway, not knowing where to go. It wasn't her place to roam around her professor's home, but she didn't want to bother her professor either. Maybe the house elf could help her. "Lindy?"
With a 'crack,' Lindy appeared in front of Annabelle, bowing at the waist before standing up. The little witch giggled a little upon seeing the elf. She had one ear flopped backwards like a puppy and was now standing at attention. The elf gave a crooked grin, and pat down her burgundy dress. "How may I be of service, Little Miss?"
"Do you know when Professor McGonagall will be ready or do you know where I can wait?" Annabelle trusted the little elf, but she wasn't so sure about Minerva yet.
Lindy's smile grew so that it spread from ear to floppy little ear as she snapped her fingers and was gone.
Down the hall, Minerva jumped a foot in the air upon hearing the 'pop.' Of course, she should have expected it, but she wasn't exactly decent, so she was a little more jumpy than normal. "Oh, Lindy, what is it you need?" Reaching into her closet, Minerva pulled out a light weight emerald button up and a pair of grey slacks. To her mother's dismay, Minerva actually preferred the feel of muggle clothing. After a moment of silence from Lindy, Minerva turned back toward her elf.
"Well, Mistress, I believe little miss could use your assistance. She seems a bit lost." Little miss didn't seem to be very pleased with being at Mistress' home. She cried a lot and seemed very sad. This made Lindy sad, too.
"Well, Lindy, as you can see, I'm not exactly presentable." Saying this, Minerva slipped on the slacks and quickly zipped and buttoned them. She then threw her button-up over her black tank top and slipped on a pair of black boots. "Where is she?"
Lindy looked up, slightly nervous. "She's in her room, Mistress, but Lindy was wondering if Lindy could perhaps help Mistress get ready quicker. Lindy would also like permission to prepare a nice dinner for Master, Mistress, and Little Miss. Lindy misses making dinner for a family. All house elves here do."
Before Minerva had the opportunity to respond to Lindy, she disapparated with another quick 'pop.' She had been called away by Annabelle, who was waiting in her room, growing anxious with every passing second. "What's going on, Lindy? Why were you gone so long? Was she mad at you?"
"No, little miss. Mistress was simply getting ready and was taking her time talking to me. Mistress likes talking to Lindy. Yes, yes, she does." Again, the little elf was nodding her head vigorously and then she grinned and reached out to touch Annabelle's arm. What Lindy didn't expect, was for little miss to jerk away. This concerned Lindy and she desperately wanted to tell Mistress. "Little miss, she should be on her way soon." She paused for a moment and lifted her head, leaning closer to the door. "Actually, she's on her way now. Are you ready to go?"
Annabelle simply nodded and met Professor McGonagall outside of her door. She was shocked to see her teacher wearing clothes similar to her own, expect for the fact that her teacher had a gold traveling cloak draped around her shoulders. Her raven hair was pulled into a tight bun on top of her head and her gold spectacles once again sat on the bridge of her nose. Minerva McGonagall really did look very regal to her young charge. It wasn't every day Belle saw someone as pretty as Minerva. It wasn't every day she found out she was a witch either. Today was just full of surprises.
