Chapter 55: Inspections and Warnings

"What exactly are you insinuating professor!?" Dolores shrilled loud enough to bring half the student body out of the Great Hall.

Margaret and her children were coming down the stairs just as Minerva and Umbridge were coming up them.

"I am merely requesting that went it comes to my students you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices!" Minerva snapped.

"So silly of me but is sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom…Minerva," Dolores sneered taking a step up to come eye level with the taller witch.

"Not at…Dolores. Merely your medieval methods," Minerva stated taking another step up and towering over the toad.

"I …am sorry dear but to question my practices is to question the Ministry and by extension the minister himself! I am a tolerant woman but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty!" Umbridge exclaimed.

"Disloyalty," McGonagall whispered taking a step down.

"Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared! Cornelius will want to take immediate action!" Umbridge declared as she climbed the rest of the stairs and disappeared around the corner.

"I suggest you students get to class," Minerva sighed rubbing her temple. The students smartly moved on as the professor climbed the last of the stairs and stood n front of her daughter.

The professor noticed for the first time in a long while her daughter was in fact shorter than her. It was only about four inches but she was still shorter.

"What do you think she meant by that?" Margaret asked.

"I can only guess. Something to do with another Educational Decree you can expect," Minerva sighed.

"Granny?" Stephanie asked touching the woman's arm.

"I suggest you kids toe the line for now… I wouldn't visit your mother outside of class," Minerva said with a sad look as she briskly walked off.

"Mum?" Hermione questioned.

"She maybe right," Margaret sighed.

"Stupid toad," Stephanie growled. Margaret laughed and kissed her head.

"I think we're beginning to rub off on you kitten," Margaret laughed tapping her nose.

"Yep she's a McGonagall," Harry grinned putting an arm around the girl.

"All right go on now," Margaret laughed as they headed to their classes and she headed outside to hers.


Margaret stood looking out of a window in the staff quarters five weeks after the incident between Minerva and Dolores. Umbridge had been given the position of Hogwarts high Inquisitor and was allowed to inspect all the teachers and evaluate their performance. Today she was looking in on the two McGonagall women. Margaret was waiting for her mother to come before she went to her class.

"UGGGGH!" Minerva screamed as she entered the staff room.

She picked up the coffee mug by Severus and hurled it at the wall. The cup shattered into pieces and the coffee dripped down the wall staining the rug.

"Not go well?" Severus sneered.

"She asked me how long I've been teaching," Minerva hissed.

"Forty years December but what's that got to ….ooooh," Margaret gasped.

"Oh what?" Severus asked.

"Well Jackson was six when mum started here. Just after Dippit died…no one even knew mum had a kid till she strolled into her first class with him trailing behind her. Dolores probably thinks Albus only let her take him to class or even teach because they slept together," Margaret stated twitching her head lightly.

"You have a one night stand with a man and they think the red hair child is his," Minerva sighed.

There was a small gasp as the staff door shut.

"I think she bought it," Margaret smirked.

"Actually your brother doesn't look that much like Dumbledore…nor do you," Severus stated.

"Jackson looks like Grandpa Marcus. He had the same muddy red hair and grey eyes. I of course look like mum and Gran," Margaret shrugged.

"Although you both act very like your father," Minerva added.

"Well maybe then I won't bite her head off," Margaret winked as she strolled out of the staffroom to the grounds for her fifth year Slytherins and Gryffindors.

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"All right kids gather around now. I have a special treat for you all," Margaret smiled as she clicked her tongue towards the forest.

After a few minutes there were scattered gasps and some murmuring of confusing.

"Fortesque come closer," Margaret called.

Harry and Hermione watched as the black skeleton horse came closer to their mother and rubbed its head against her neck.

"Now show of hands who can in fact see what I am petting?" Margaret asked. Only about seven hands went up.

"Yes I thought so. Well now this marvelous creature is very underappreciated much like all the creatures the Ministry disregards. This lovely creature is called a thestral. Now can anyone tell me anything about them?" Margaret asked.

"Hem, hem."

"Yes Mrs. Umbridge?" Margaret asked bending down to take a piece of raw meat from a bucket and fed it to the invisible creature.

"I was just wondering if a thestral was really the best thing to show these children," Dolores asked.

"Well why not it's not like he'll attack. Thestrals are very gentle creatures…aren't you Fortesque," Margaret asked.

The creature snorted and bobbed his head as she fed him a piece of raw meat.

"Good boy," Margaret grinned. "Miss McGonagall!"

"Yes Madam McGonagall?" Hermione asked.

"You and Mr. McGonagall please come here," Margaret stated.

Harry and Hermione stepped toward the black creature and their mother watching Umbridge write on her pink clipboard.

"Here you two take him for a ride around the castle. And don't worry thestrals are very good at directions," Margaret stated helping them mount the creature.

"But…Madam McGonagall I…"

"That's why Mr. McGonagall is going with you dear," Margaret winked as she patted the creature's backside and he took off.

An hour later as the students were heading back to the castle Margaret was making sure the thestral got back into the woods.

"I admit Ms. McGonagall you do seem to know your way around animals," Dolores stated.

"Thank you Ms. High Inquisitor," Margaret nodded as she turned form the forest to the witch.

"How long have you been teaching here?" Dolores asked quill at the ready.

"I was here in 1992 as an assistant to the Quidditch and flying instructor. The following year Albus asked me to come teach Care of Magical Creatures," Margaret stated, "so two and half years now."

"I see…you seem rather close to the headmaster," Dolores replied.

"I've known him for a while yes. He's always been very kind to my parents," Margaret smiled.

"And what exactly qualifies you for your position. If I remember correctly you disappeared for several years only to return in the Wizard and Muggle Rodeo games. You never went to University," Umbridge smiled sweetly.

"True but I did get a teaching certificate before I started as an official professor. Also as I can communicate with all animals," Margaret stated.

"I see…well you should receive your evaluation in a few days dear," Umbridge stated.

"Excellent. I know just what I'll do with it as well," Margaret nodded entering the castle.


"Grandma Diana was granny very good at school?" Hermione asked.

"Oh most definitely…but that's not important right now. How are you fairing with Dolores Umbridge?" Diana asked.

"Harry's had a slew of detentions and I…I have too," Hermione blushed.

"Well that's not out of the ordinary…we're known for hot respecting authority," Diana giggled.

"She's really awful though grandma. I'm afraid of what will happen if mum or granny are suspended," Hermione stated.

"That will not happen dear…but let's talk about the ritual," Diana stated.

"You said it was something only the women in the family could do…but Uncle Jackson would finish," Hermione replied.

"Yes that's right. Jackson will in fact give the blessing that will allow the school to fully take your mother," Diana nodded.

"What exactly were you and the others supposed to do?" Hermione asked.

"Release her of that which hindered her from being the school," Diana stated.

"What does that mean?" Hermione asked.

"It means that you need to be very mindful of how your mother interacts with the building itself. Good night my dear," Diana smiled kissing the woman's head.