Annie knew she would end up with the most dangerous dragon out of all the dragons there were to choose from; she got the Hungarian Horntail of course. Meanwhile the Hogwarts champion got a little British dragon and Durmstrang got the Chinese Fireball. Annie was the last one to go today so she sat on her little bed in the tent waiting and listening to the others fight. Apparently one used some type of ice and water trick, which meant the ground would be a tad bit mushier for her.

No, she was trying to distract herself. She has to focus. Annie stood up and peeked outside the curtain looking for her mum, but she couldn't see her.

"Who are you looking for?" a familiar voice asks. Annie smiles and turns to see Minerva standing there, with her cane. Annie raced over and gave her a hug.

"I thought Poppy said it was too risky?" Annie asks when she pulls away. Minerva shrugs,

"My daughter is about to battle a dragon, screw it," Annie laughed, but it faded when she heard her dad announce her name. Minerva put a hand on her shoulder, "Worrying won't help you. Just do what you know best."

Annie nodded and gave her one more quick hug before heading down to here entrance. Minerva watches her, but she can feel Poppy watching her.

"She will be okay."

Minerva takes a deep breath, "I know."

The stands went quiet when Annie stepped out. Annie looked around and smiled a little when she saw Minerva sitting next to Poppy and Albus. "Just do what you know best"

Even though she wasn't in her cat form, she still had perfect hearing and she could hear the dragon was to her left even with the echo. So before the dragon could strike with its tail, Annie was able to dodge it and duck behind a rock. She could feel the rock heat as the Horntail blew on it.

'Okay think think think…'

She had to run again because the tail struck the rock. This time she didn't want to hide. She turned and fired a spell at a rock and it burst. Temporarily, it distracted the dragon and she made a run for the egg when she was suddenly thrown as if something hit her from the left and she went flying into the wall. It took her a moment to get her surroundings, but she couldn't find her wand. The ground was mushy and dark she couldn't feel it. She quickly stood when the dragon came, but she was thrown again, this time under the dragon's legs and into a rock.

Up in the stands, Minerva and the other professors were puzzled.

"I don't think she is doing that…" she heard a coworker whisper to another.

Meanwhile Annie had no other option in her position and she jumped and the crowd screamed when she became a cat. What she didn't realize was that she landed on the dragon's tail not a rock and she found herself running up the back of the dragon.

Minerva suddenly, out of impulse and nervousness, grabbed Albus's hand. He squeezed it as they watched Annie, in her cat form, jump off the dragon when she located her wand. Without turning back into human form, she ran with her wand in her mouth. But she was now lifted off the ground and thrown again… losing her wand in the process.

"Albus, something isn't right…" Minerva says and holds his arm now not caring that some press had their eyes on them. Under the Minister's order, Skeeter was banned from this challenge.

Annie jumped and returned into her form. She looked at the dragon and flashed back to her accident with the potatoes… when she did magic without a wand. Annie slowly lifted her arms and closed her eyes. When she opened them again she flung her hands toward the dragons and the rocks around her went with them. They blocked the dragon from being able to walk over to her and she ran towards the egg again.

"Accio broom!"

She was glad she had these robes that her parents gave her because they gave her more room to jump when her broom came. She continued to fight the dragon for another five minutes and just as she was about to grab the egg she was thrown off her broom. The crowd screamed as Annie landed on the rocks, but this time she didn't get back up; she was knocked unconscious.

The next time she woke up she was in the hospital wing, it was later that night. She slowly opened her eyes, but quickly closed them when she felt the headache.

"Annie," her mother said softly. Annie opened her eyes again and saw Minerva sitting next to her and holding her hand. "How do you feel?"

Annie groaned as she slowly sat up. "Like I was hit by the knight bus. What happened?"

Minerva brushed her hand against Annie's forehead before she spoke, "There were some repellent rocks mixed in with the stadium rocks that somehow changed the gravity around you and prevented you from getting the egg. Your father found them when he ordered everyone to evacuate."

"So there really is someone here trying to kill me…"

Minerva slowly and sadly nodded. "The Minister is considering ending the tournament, but in your father's eyes that won't solve anything."

Annie nodded, "I agree, but I guess that means I'm under protection twenty four seven here now?"

Minerva moved and sat on the bed next to Annie and took her hand, "These attacks have been mild compared to what this person could do. Whoever is doing this still fears getting caught because of your father. As long as he is around you're safe."

Annie looked and saw her mother didn't have her cane. "Where is your cane? Poppy will have a meltdown again."

Minerva stood up with a smile, "My leg has been feeling better and it is easier to walk without the cane. Now, would you like to go to dinner?"

Annie smiled and took her mother's arm as she helped her up. "Who won the challenge?"

Minerva shrugged as they left the hospital wing, "The judges haven't announced anything yet. They're almost considering a rematch because you were treated unfairly."

Annie frowned, "Dad will never agree to that, allowing more people into the castle?"

Minerva nods in agreement and turns into the teacher's room where her house elf was waiting.

"Hello Ms! I have dinner ready for you and Miss!" she said happily. Minerva smiled at her elf, Twinky.

"Thank you Twinky, would you please tell Professor Dumbledore we are here? In case he is wondering?"

Twinky nodded and disappeared a moment later.

"So, what was it like at Beaubaxton?" Minerva asks Annie as they begin eating. Annie looked at her mother with confusion. "I've missed seventeen years of your life, I'm curious about school. After all, Beaubaxton is a very good school."

Annie smiled, "I'll admit it was a bit hard because I always felt out of place, but it made me work harder to prove myself. I was always the best in Transfiguration… now I know why."

Minerva smiled, "It isn't all genes. You have to want it, too. Just like becoming an animagus. Not many fifth year students have ever accomplished that, not even me."

"When did you start?"

Minerva sipped her wine as she smiled, "I showed interest in my sixth year, but Albus didn't think it was safe with me being so young. But he agreed to help me my seventh year only because I threatened to do it myself."

Annie laughed, "Mother… did you know he was more than a professor back then?"

Minerva looked down at her plate and gave a soft smile. "My seventh year is when I… we noticed a certain spark between us. We would practice my animagus after dinner regularly twice a week. Then it turned into more and then weekends. We enjoyed each other's company."

"But you never let it become something more?"

Minerva got a soft look on her face and looked at her plate again. "I knew we both wanted to, but we had reputations and neither of us wanted a student professor scandal."

Annie nods, "I can understand that, it happened at Beaubaxton when I was in my second year. The professor ended up being suspending pending investigation."

Minerva pointed her fork at her, "And that is why it never became anything more while I was a student. But once he came to visit me one summer to offer me the job we both knew our relationship would change."

"Well I'm glad it did or else I wouldn't have existed," Annie said with a chuckle. Minerva laughed, too. "I will admit though Olivia was a life saver many times and I am lucky to have her as my best friend. I guess she is my Poppy."

Minerva was going to answer when Professor Slughorn came into the room.

"Ah, Minerva, Miss. McGonagall what a pleasant surprise!" Slughorn greeted as he went to grab himself a drink. "How do you feel after the rough match today?"

"Sore, but I will survive." Annie said with confidence. Slughorn clapped his hands together.

"So do you think you will compete in the mini school matches I hear buzzing about?" Annie and Minerva frowned, which indicated to Slughorn that they had no clue. "I guess a group of Durmstrang and Ravenclaws are putting together a dueling madness chart and the duels will occur in the Great Hall, if they get permission."

Annie looked at Minerva, who didn't look completely thrilled with the idea. Annie shrugged, "I'm not sure I want more attention on me right now."

Slughorn sat down in an armchair near the fireplace, "I can understand that. At least the Minister was able to get rid of Skeeter and hire a new reporter."

Minerva looked up from her food, "When is this new reporter coming?"

Slughorn shook his head, "I believe he came today. He and several other judges and reporters got a tour of the stadium before the match."

Annie stood up, "Wait… so the press and judges were allowed to view the play fields before the events?" Slughorn nodded. "Twinky!"

In a snap the house elf appeared, "How can I help you Miss. McGonagall?"

"Twinky, where is Professor Dumbledore?"

"He is in his office with the Minister of Magic!"

Annie helped her mother up and excused themselves from Slughorn.

"If we allow a rematch then the press will make it seem as if we are favoring Miss. May," Albus argued. "And I'm not sure she would be comfortable doing it."

The Minister sighed, "Albus you don't have to call her that. Would you be saying this if she wasn't your child?"

Albus glared at the Minister and stood up. "There is a mole, a traitor in this school and I have yet to find it! I have looked and questioned everyone!"

Suddenly the doors to his office burst open and they turned to see Minerva and Annie coming in. Not caring the Minister was in the room, Annie went straight to her father.

"Did you let the judges and reporters look at the Pitch before the first task?"

Albus shook his head, "Only the judges. We headmasters and the Minister thought it would be good to get some reporters on our side so we showed them the stadium this morning."

Annie looked at Minerva, "Albus what if it is one of the judges?"

Albus sat down in his chair and Minerva rested a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to keep him calm.

"Think about it, the first challenge roots sprung up from the ground and grabbed my ankle to prevent me from going anywhere," Annie explained. "What if it was a test to see if mum would come running to help me. Therefore confirming she knows I am her daughter. Then they attempt to kill me or kidnap me or something."

Minerva could feel Albus slowly getting angrier and angrier, but it was out of protective instincts for Minerva and Annie.

"And then they got a tour today. Someone could have easily dropped the repellent rocks." Annie added.

"Where are the judges now?" The Minister asks before Albus could. "I thought we cleared them?"

"They're staying at an inn in Hogsmeade." Albus says in a low tone.

"We shouldn't spook them tonight. Nothing good happens after midnight." Minerva says firmly.

"I agree," The Minister says and rises from his seat. "Tomorrow we will meet here again and discuss a plan of action. I'd like Madam Maxime here, too."

Albus and Minerva agreed and said good night to the Minister. Once he was gone, Albus slammed his hand on his desk. Minerva gave Annie a look and Annie knew she should leave them be. Once Annie had left them alone, Minerva spoke,

"None of this is your fault."

Albus shook his head, "How can you say that? I was so scared I would lose you when you were pregnant that we never told the world Ariana was our baby so I could protect you… but it doesn't matter anymore because I can't protect you either way."

Minerva frowned, but still held him close to her. "What are you saying…?"

"I'm saying maybe it would be better that they know she is my daughter because then maybe they won't go near her. Maybe they won't hurt you anymore…"

Albus sat down and Minerva sat in his lap. She took his hand and used magic to make his wedding ring appear.

"It's up to you, but once it is done there is no going back." She softly says and kisses him. He sighs when she pulls away.

"I miss the good old days, when everything was simple and…. Pure. I miss being able to walk outside without having to worry about people like Grindelwald or Riddle."

Minerva agreed, but didn't speak. "She asked me today about when our relationship started. She has asked before but this time we were in a better conversation setting. Apparently, back when I was younger my classmates already thought we were 'doing it' and word continued to spread like that."

Albus smiled and gave a small laugh. "Well we weren't very good at pretending something wasn't there."

Minerva laughed, "Remember that one night when something could have happened? When we were practicing my transformations."

Albus nodded, "How could I forget! You landed right on top of me when you tried jumping into form."

Minerva leant her forehead onto his, "We didn't move for ten minutes. We were lucky nobody walked in on us."

Albus smiled a little, but nodded. "I am tired of the secrets."

Minerva relaxed against him as he revealed her wedding ring, "I remember when you came to offer me the job."

Flashback….

Minerva sat in her room reading the latest published work of a transfiguration author. She quit her job yesterday at the Ministry because she couldn't stand the current minister. And to be honest, a desk job wasn't really her thing.

She sighed and stood up to walk outside in the gardens for a few moments. She knew she wouldn't be cold even with the breeze. She was wearing her favorite light green summer dress. She loved her parent's house… but it still didn't feel the same without her father.

"You look to be in deep thought."

Minerva jumped and pulled her wand out to point on her intruder. But once she saw who it was she took a deep breath and relaxed.

"You shouldn't startle me like that, remember last time you ended up wearing you beverage."

Sitting on the bench in her garden was Albus Dumbledore. They had written to each other throughout the years after her graduation, but they hadn't seen each other in person for three years.

"I decided what I want to say shouldn't be in a letter, and besides I miss seeing you everyday so I decided to take the chance and startle you." Albus said with his usual charm. Minerva nudged him in the shoulder so he would move over so she could sit.

"And what is so pressing that you felt the need to scare me?"

Albus looked up at the sky with his smile, "No hello first?" he teased.

Minerva rolled her eyes, "Why hello Albus Dumbledore and how are you on this warm summer day?"

Albus laughed, "Well that sounded so heart felt. I happen to be quite wonderful because I am about to make you the happiest witch in our world."

Minerva frowned, but still smiled a little bit. "You sound rather confident?"

"Oh I am my dear, because I have been appointed Headmaster to Hogwarts."

Minerva gasped and couldn't help but throw her arms around him. "Congratulations Albus!"

He hugged her tight right back. "That wasn't what I came to tell you, but I did want you to know before it hits the papers in the morning."

Minerva pulled back, "Are you just going to string me along?"

Albus smiled, "My appointment of Headmaster means I no longer can be transfiguration teacher, which means I need to appoint a replacement."

Minerva listened and her eyes widened as she realized what he was implying. She stood up so quickly that she lost her balance and Albus quickly caught her. Minerva got a grip and stood up.

"Sorry, I was just a bit shocked." She says. Albus smiles.

"I was hoping it meant you were excited and wants to accept."

Minerva bit her lip and looked a bit flustered. "Would you like some tea or something stronger?" she asks as she quickly walks back to the house. Albus frowns, but quickly follows her.

"Tea is fine unless you are having something…" he begins but then sees her take out bourbon. "Tea is fine," Minerva pours him a cup and then pours her bourbon. "I am puzzled. I thought you would be happy? I know you hated the Ministry of Magic."

She didn't say anything. She moved to the table in the kitchen and sat across from Albus.

"I… I want to but I… I just…"

"Breathe Minerva."

Minerva took a deep breath and looked outside. "I'm not sure I could work that close to you…"

Albus sat back and looked at her. He knew why she was saying that, but he wanted her to say it. He felt the same way, but like her he was scared.

"Do you know, when I was told I would become headmaster," Albus said quietly and looked at her without breaking his gaze. "The first thing I thought was how much you would love to take over as the transfiguration professor. Because I know how happy you could be as a professor and teaching a subject you love. And I know you are the perfect person for the role."

Minerva ran a hand through her hair. "Really? I was the first person you thought about?" Albus nodded. "Prof… Albus I… listen you know how I feel about you even though we have always been professional. But I can't… work with you if it continues like that. I just…"

Albus stood up and moved his chair closer to her. "I know I just wanted to hear you say that you feel the same way about me as I do for you."

Minerva didn't expect that and her eyes went wide.

Annie was on her guard when she walked down to breakfast the next morning. If in fact one of the judges or reporters is trying to kill her, they need to be sure he or she is working alone. She met up with Olivia and Jacob and even though she was in conversation with them, her eyes were everywhere. The judges were sitting at the staff table talking with several professors. However, her parents were not among them.

"So are you entering the dueling tournament Olivia?" Jacob asks knowing Annie has already declined. Olivia shrugged.

"I don't know. I know sign ups finish by the end of today. Professor Dumbledore will only approve if there are a good number of people interested…. Annie are you okay?"

Annie snapped out of her train of thought and looked at her friends, "What? Oh yes I am fine, just thinking."

Olivia frowned, "Are you still upset about the challenge? They haven't ruled yet whether or not there will be a do over."

Annie shook her head, "I don't want a do over. It wouldn't be fair to the other champions. I am fine with being second."

Jacob shook his head, "No you can't let a Durmstrang beat you!"

Olivia elbowed Jacob to make him stop talking. Annie gave a small smile, but stood up after. "I have a lot of work to do. I'll see you guys around."

Annie walked out of the Great Hall with her hands in her robes. She wanted to turn to go upstairs, but instead she wandered into the snow covered court yard. She saw some first years playing in the snow, many of whom she recognized due to her teaching. Annie brushed some snow off of a bench and sat down with her robes tight against her. She looked at the snow at her feet and, with one hand, began making circles in the air. The snow lifted off the ground and began to dance. She enjoyed moments like this, where everything just for a second was calm. As happy as she was to find her real parents, everything this year is extremely stressful. Annie used her other hand to make more snow dance around her feet.

"Lavendar's blue dilly dilly lavendar's green… when I am Queen dilly dilly you shall be King…"

He soft voice echoed through the courtyard without her realizing it. She had a distant memory of this song being sung to her and now she has a clear voice to match it with.

"Lavendar's green dilly dilly lavendar's blue… you must love me dilly dilly for I love you…"

The first years stopped playing when they heard her and they turned to watch her.

"When I am King dilly dilly you shall be Queen… Lavendar's green dilly dilly lavendar's blue if you love me dilly dilly I will love you…"

"What beautiful singing." A low voice said. Annie looked up, startled, and saw it was one of the judges, who had traveled all the way from China. The snow fell right back to the ground and Annie stood up.

"Thank you sir."

Annie's heart rate was increasing, but she kept a calm front for if it were this man she would not want to spook him.

"The other judges and I were talking and we want to know whether or not you would like a rematch?" he said and sat down. Annie remained standing straight and shook her head. "Why not?"

"It wouldn't be fair or right. It's not the champions doing that someone wants to kill me. No, I am okay with second in the standings."

"Tell me, how is it you are able to… enchant the snow with only your hands?"

Annie bit her tongue, "I'm sorry?"

The judge stood up, "When I was coming over here I saw the snow dancing at your feet, but your wand was in your robes."

"I…"

"Is there a problem over here?" a familiar voice asked. Annie whipped around and was relieved to see her father approaching.

"Nothing at all sir, merely asking Miss. McGonagall if she would like a rematch. Excuse me."

And off he walked back into the castle. Annie turned to her father and hugged him despite their audience of first years.

"Are you alright my dear?"

Annie nodded into his chest while she held him tight. When she released him she turned to look back at the castle.

"He called me Miss. McGonagall."