***Just a heads up, story has shifted to the summer before Maggie and the Marauders' last year at Hogwarts.***
Maggie flipped through Transfiguration Today, her dark hair sitting on her head in a messy bun, her glasses slightly slipping off of her nose. She hummed quietly to herself, distractedly dog-earing the pages of the magazine at interesting sections for later reading.
"Anything interesting in there?" Minerva asked as she apparated into the living room of her small house carrying a few bags. She briefly eyed her daughter reading on the couch before she rested the bags on her kitchen counter and began emptying the contents.
"Not really," Maggie answered distractedly as she went to one of the bags and immediately went for a chocolate frog.
"Before dinner?" Minerva questioned.
"I've done worse," Maggie quipped nonchalantly as she flung herself down on the couch and began biting off the head of a chocolate frog. "This is my last summer of being an annoying teenager, don't you want to enjoy it as much as possible?" Maggie asked with a mischievous smile.
Minerva focused her attention back on the grocery bags, not willing to indulge in a conversation about her daughter growing up.
"Well you are always going to be under my care so that shall be your last snack before dinner," Minerva said seriously as Maggie quickly shoved the rest of the frog into her mouth.
"When do you reckon we can go down to the Ministry and get registered?" Maggie asked curiously as she picked up Lark and began petting his sleek black back.
Minerva pursed her lips and sighed. "I'm not too sure, kitten. It might be best to hold off on it, just for the summer. At least until we can ensure that everything is quite safe."
Maggie furrowed her brown in a confused expression before it suddenly hit her. The conversation with Regulus and Severus came roaring back into her mind and suddenly she didn't like the idea of discussing Animagus registration anymore.
Just as both women opened their mouths to say something, there was a distinct and loud knock at the door.
Maggie instinctively hopped up and approached the doorframe to McGonagall Manor.
"Who is it?" Maggie questioned severely.
"None other than Albus Dumbledore," a familiar voice said. Maggie frowned.
Just as Maggie was about to open the door, Minerva snapped her wand at Maggie and the young witch flew back a few steps.
As Maggie looked up from the ground, slightly shaken and completely bewildered, she noticed something on her mother's face that she had not seen since the resignation of the Minister of Magic: fear.
"What is the name of the Muggle book that you encouraged me to bring to Lily Evans when we did our rounds with Muggle families in the summer of 1971?" Minerva questioned Dumbledore through the doorframe with such intensity in her voice that Maggie felt a sudden surge of anxiety.
"Matilda," Albus answered immediately. "Written by the superb Roald Dahl, one of my personal favorites if I might add. He also happened to construct another marvelous piece that quite reminds me of Rubeus Hagrid if I say so myself, by the name of The Big Friendly—"
"Oh, Albus come off of it already," Minerva snapped irritably but with a tone of relief as she swung open the door.
Albus Dumbledore peered in McGonagall Manor, the living room adorned with walls of books, rich mahogany furniture and a brilliant mural of Godric Gryffindor hanging over the fireplace. The McGonagalls' other cats, Godric and Talon were staring curiously at the guest while Lark stood protectively by Maggie's feet.
"Evening, Miss McGonagall," Albus smiled with a twinkle in his eye at Maggie, who was still sitting dumbstruck on the ground.
"Professor," Maggie blushed as she stood up and dusted some dirt from her legs as casually as possible.
"What brings you to Hogsmeade so early in the morning?" Minerva questioned with narrowed eyes. "And more importantly, here of all places?"
"Mum," Maggie chastised as softly as she could. She was appalled at her mother for having been so rude to Dumbledore, as it was completely out of her character. "Tea, Professor?" Maggie asked as she made her way to the kitchen.
"I shall pass this time, I had a delightful Muggle concoction earlier today that has satisfied me momentarily I daresay. No, no. What I have come here for is…well, simply stated, you, Miss McGonagall."
Maggie scrunched her nose slightly and stared at her professor with such a lack of understanding that she felt slightly embarrassed for not knowing to what he might be referring to.
"Me, Professor? What on earth would you need me for?" Maggie half-laughed as she glanced at her mother who was now flaring her nostrils and staring pointedly at Dumbledore. Meanwhile, Dumbledore himself was totally oblivious to Minerva's deathly stare.
Dumbledore walked around the entirety of the living room and pulled a muggle candy from his coat pocket, instantly taking the wrapper off and popping the sweet into his mouth. He slowly approached a framed picture of Maggie with her mother and uncles at a Montrose Magpies quidditch match.
"Did they win this match?" Dumbledore asked curiously, obviously avoiding the confrontation that was bound to emerge.
"Yes," Maggie said curtly as she wove around a bookcase to get closer to her headmaster. "Professor, I don't mean to be rude but can you please explain why you here to see me?"
Dumbledore turned on the young witch, his eyes looking curious as usual but there was surely a glint of unsureness in them.
"Miss McGonagall, it has come to my attention that your powers have grown substantially over the past year alone. Your skills in transfiguration have surpassed those of both myself and I daresay your mother. You have an excellent proclivity for Potions, much like your father. You excel superbly in Defense Against the Dark Arts, not unlike your uncles Robert and William. It may be safe to say that you are perhaps the brightest witch of your age. I have come here today, as your second invitation. Mind you this one might be more to your liking." Dumbeldore said all at once, an aura of playfulness and praise evident in his strong voice.
Maggie found herself immediately lowering to sit on her mother's large plush chair. She ran her fingers through her dark hair, feeling as though all of the air had escaped from her lungs. She found herself wondering how she could ever worry about such trivial matters such as eating chocolate frogs and dating Sirius Black.
"An invitation? To what I dare ask?" Minerva snapped irritably, her glasses nearly falling off of her nose.
"I intend to create an organization," Dumbledore began, now tossing a small Remembrall in his hand. "I have rounded up the likes of many talented witches and wizards to aid in special endeavors to monitor and eventually end the rule of Voldemort."
"And you intended to initiate my daughter into this madness?" Minerva practically shrieked, her face turning a dangerous color of scarlet. Maggie had not seen her mother this angry since Professor Slughorn boasted of Slytherin's Quidditch win in front of the entire school last year.
"She will be of age come September, my dear Minerva," Dumbledore said gently as he raised up a hand to explain matters further. "I have already received affirmative answers from the young Sirius Black and James Potter. Are you aware that Fleamont and Euphemia took Mr. Black in last year? Inspiring family they are."
"Sirius and James have joined?" Maggie instantly perked up. "Alright, well if that's the case, you can count me in the organization."
"You most certainly are not in the organization, Maggie!" Minerva scowled with such indignation that Maggie almost lost her nerve. "How dare you, Albus! I specifically asked you to leave her out of all this nonsense until she is much older. You assured me!"
Maggie rose from her seat in anger.
"Why would you speak on behalf of me?" Maggie argued back instantly, all thought of easing her plans on to her mother now gone.
"Because simply put, I am your mother." Minerva snapped back.
"I asked you! I confided in you what my plans were. You agreed to train me to become an Animagus, did you not?" Maggie snarled back, her cheeks growing hot with anger.
"An Animagus, yes. Not a spy for Albus' suicide mission organization. You can help the Ministry as I intend to. These things are not meant for young people to involve themselves in, Maggie. You will heed my advice."
Maggie scowled. "I'm not a child anymore, mum!" Maggie snapped. She turned to look at Dumbledore now. "If you're creating an army, then I want in. My training is nearly complete. I'd be able to fly great distances and I know who we might begin with obtaining information."
Dumbledore smiled.
"Ah, yes. Young Regulus Black and Severus Snape. I intended to ask you about them quite frankly. Did they really attempt to recruit dark witches and wizards right under my nose?" Dumbledore chuckled.
"How did you know of their plans?" Minerva questioned her daughter with a tone of surprise and fear.
"They asked me to join," Maggie answered simply. "Well, they technically branched out an invitation but I could tell Snape didn't really want to include me. They also asked Alice Fortescue."
"A great pureblood family, the Fortescues are." Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "Miss Fortescue's family is quite gifted in the art of ice cream making. Have you visited their shop in Diagon Alley? A magic of its own."
"But we aren't purebloods, Albus," Minerva said with a strange tiredness in her voice. "What would You-Know-Who want with us?"
"Voldemort?" Dumbledore asked with a twinkle in his eye. At the mention of his name, Minerva flinched.
"Yes," Minerva replied coldly. "That would be to whom I was referring."
"Quite simply, you and your daughter possess abilities that scarce few pureblood can merely dream of," Dumbledore relied coolly. "Must be due in large part to their inter-marrying and matters of the sort. Muggles may be on to something about genetics. Fascinating topic that is."
"Albus," Minerva shot with closed eyes. She pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation. "I implore you to focus on the matter at hand."
"I don't reckon there is much else to discuss," Maggie replied on behalf of Dumbledore. "When can I start?"
"I will be instructing all members at a meeting sometime in the fall," Dumbledore relied with a smile.
"Brilliant." Minerva snapped. "Now you've just gone and taken my daughter without so much as a request from me. I am her mother after all! You had no right taking her from me in such a barbaric manner, Albus Dumbledore. I don't care if you are headmaster of every wizarding school in entire world, I will not tolerate—" "Mum," Maggie said softly as she took her mother's arm. "It's time. This was going to happen sooner or later."
Minerva's eyes suddenly softened at her daughter's calm tone.
"I would have preferred later," Minerva said somberly. "Or better yet, never. Good day, Albus."
And with that, Minerva huffed and in a whirl of green and tartan, stormed up to her bedroom on the second floor of their house.
"I'll be in contact with you, Miss McGonagall. In the meantime, keep up a watchful front, for Severus Snape and Regulus Black are the least of your worries if you catch me." With that note of dooming finality, Dumbledore winked and apparated from McGonagall Manor.
Not wanting to leave herself alone with her thoughts, Maggie scurried to find some parchment to write to James and Sirius.
"Would you care to discuss any of what's happened today?" Maggie questioned her mother almost in as stern of a tone as Minerva herself.
The two, at Maggie's diligent request, had gone for a tea in Diagon Alley in efforts to alleviate even a fraction of the tension that Dumbledore had caused. Minerva had been unusually quiet and Maggie knew this was not a good indication of her mother's thoughts. The only other time her mother had been so quiet was when she caught Maggie flying a broomstick in Hogsmeade at the age of seven…unsupervised.
"I understand that you are worried," Maggie tried again. "But honestly, mum. You know I can't stand back and watch bad things happen to good people. That isn't how you raised me. And…and I reckon Dad wouldn't want the same for me either."
At the mention of the late Elphinstone Urquart Maggie felt a twinge of sadness but also relief. She was frankly quite tired of pretending that her father had not existed. She knew it hurt her mother but he had been Maggie's father too. Even if he died when Maggie was barely four years old, she missed his face and voice.
Briefly, Maggie tried to bring her father's face to mind. The image was blurry but she could never forget his incredibly kind brown eyes, electric grey hair and joyful smile. He had been a uncommonly kind, intelligent and playful, the perfect match for her mother.
"Do you remember when you were seven? And you and Remus Lupin took your uncle's broomstick for a ride?" Minerva asked suddenly.
"I was just thinking of that," Maggie smiled softly. "You seem just as mad today as you were then."
Minerva scowled softly.
"I am not mad, Maggie," she replied calmly. "I am terrified, perhaps more so than in my entire life. When I lost your father, I felt as though the world had betrayed me. You were the only thing that could calm my mind. That is why I push you so much and vouch for your safety."
"I know that, mummy," Maggie smiled as she placed her hand over her mother's gently.
"Anyhow, once you took that broomstick and I saw you flying over the Shrieking Shack, I knew that deep down you were going to be great. Perhaps a rule-breaker and notoriously stubborn, but great indeed. I suppose I always tried to ignore your greatness when it wasn't in alignment with what I had planned it to be. Seeing you join Albus so quickly and so earnestly made me realize that I had finally lost you to the greatness." Minerva explained with such a deep sadness in her voice that Maggie's eyes watered immediately.
"You'll never lose me, mum. I promise that. I just want to do some good in the world." Maggie replied.
Minerva smiled back with sad, wet eyes.
"I suppose that is why those four boys sit horribly with me," Minerva scoffed as she turned her head to the side. "Sirius and James are quite like you. They are great. Seeing you with them strikes fear in me but I suspect they are brave young men at heart."
"They are," Maggie grinned back.
"Don't go running to Sirius Black now because I said he was a great, it was merely a small reflection I had." Minerva laughed.
"I won't go running to him quite yet," Maggie smiled back.
