CHAPTER 15
(Summer 1989)
"Look," Minerva started, after they'd gathered up their beach towels, chairs, and other paraphernalia and retreated into Will & Lizzy's house. "Let's put the TV on for Liam and put Sadie down for her nap, and then I'll explain."
Soon the adults had reconvened in the kitchen with glasses of lemonade or iced tea in front of them, and they were all looking expectantly at Minerva.
"Well, I guess I'll start by answering Will's question." She said, again pulling out her wand. "This is my wand. I am a witch."
They all gaped at her, at an understandable loss for words.
"Oooookay?" Daniel said, his eyes searching Minerva's, as if waiting for her to say she'd been joking.
"Well, I can't think of any other explanation for what I just experienced, but seriously…" Will trailed off.
"The hell you say!" Lizzie said. "I've known you my whole life, Minerva McGonagall! I know your brothers and your parents! We're family! If you were a witch—if such a thing really existed—I think I'd know!"
"That's the issue, Lizzy!" Minerva said with a sigh. "There are a number of magical populations—witches and wizards—throughout the world. But the persecution of magical folk in the past became so acute that the magical populace of the world all agreed to abide by what we call 'The International Statute of Secrecy,' the 'ISOS.' Which means that we cannot reveal our magic to non-magical folk or do magic in front of them or even tell them about magic at all."
Minerva turned to Daniel and looked pleadingly into his eyes. "That was the thing that I couldn't tell you about myself, Daniel. The thing I said you didn't know about me—that I'm a witch. And I couldn't tell you because of the ISOS."
He didn't answer, just stared in shock, his mouth half open.
"So, if you're not supposed to be doing magic in front of us, what was that down at the beach?" Will said, "Because I was sure Liam and I were going to drown, and the next moment we were plucked out of the water, flying through the air back to the shore, and then suddenly completely dry and sand-free!"
"Yes," Minerva explained, "There are exceptions to the ISOS. For example, if a witch or wizard is married to a muggle. Uh, that's what we call non-magical folk in the UK. Here in the States, they're called no-majs.
"Anyway," she continued, "In the event of a marriage or in order to save one's own life or someone else's life, magic is permissible. Will and Liam would surely have died, so I was able to perform the magic necessary to save them."
"What about Aunt Isobel and Uncle Robert?" Lizzy asked. "Do they know you're a…a…witch—supposedly?
"Yes, Lizzy," Minerva said gently, "Because Mother is also a witch." Lizzy's eyes popped. "And Robbie and Malcolm are wizards." Minerva finished.
"Your father?" Lizzy squeaked.
"Father is a muggle." Minerva said. "Mother actually didn't tell him that she was a witch until after I was born and began performing accidental magic that she couldn't conceal from him."
She sighed, "It created a great deal of strain in their marriage—the broken trust, having to hide the family's magic from Father's family and parishioners, never being allowed to perform magic in our home growing up…"
She trailed off for a moment then met Daniel's eyes again. "I didn't want that for us." She finally said.
Daniel continued to gaze into Minerva's eyes, then said, "I think I understand."
"Well, I still don't!" Lizzy piped up. "I still can't believe that you're a witch! I think we all suffered under the same massive hallucination or something!"
Minerva didn't answer, just swiftly transformed into her tabby cat animagus.
Lizzy screamed.
"Whoah!" Will shouted.
Daniel stared in wonder and finally said, "Emmie?"
Minerva nodded at him, and he scooped her up into his arms and kissed her between her ears. "I've missed you!"
She purred and nuzzled his chin with her face. This was a lovely reunion, but she knew her time was limited, so she meowed and struggled in his arms. He put her down, and she transformed back.
Lizzy screamed again, but Will said, "Cool!"
"Amazing!" Daniel said, in a tone of awe.
"That brings me to another point," Minerva said to Lizzy and Will. "I'm sorry I worried you when I disappeared." She turned to Daniel. "And I'm sorry I deceived you when I was your cat."
"Not all witches and wizards can transform." She assured them. "I am one of only a few—we're called animagi. I was in my animagus form when that storm came up, and I was injured."
She continued to explain about not being able to transform back and having to live with Daniel for two weeks until Albus arrived and was able to heal her so she could transform back.
"I totally believe that guy Albus was a wizard!" Will exclaimed. "He looks just like Merlin!" And Lizzy nodded in agreement.
"Indeed!" Minerva laughed, then looked anxiously at Daniel, wondering how he'd feel about her having lived with him and invaded his privacy for two weeks.
He looked back at her then grinned. "You know I'm going to call you 'Emmie' now! It'll be my little 'pet name' for you!" He chuckled.
"Then…you don't mind?" Minerva swallowed a lump in her throat. "That I'm a witch?"
"Are you kidding me?" He pulled her into a hug. "I think it's awesome! You are amazing, Minerva! I want to hear about everything!" he squeezed her close and whispered in her ear, "I told you before: I'm all in," He leaned down and kissed the side of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine.
Will and Lizzie met one another's eyes and gave silent cheers of victory.
Then there was a knock at the door.
Minerva reluctantly disengaged herself from Daniel's embrace and said, "That'll probably be a representative from MACUSA—to ascertain why I violated the ISOS…and to obliviate all of your memories." She finished with a whisper.
AN: Thanks for reading—please review!
