I

Aperture

September of 1992

Hogwarts School

Of

Witchcraft and Wizardry

Time was magic. How endless it was still astounded wizards and muggles alike, it was fruitless to cheat time, but that did not stop people from trying to do so. Muggles mythologized time travel, wizards however, more creative and determined created time turners.

Even so, time caught up with them, time was unbeatable; time was uncheatable.

However, this attempt to cheat time was as futile as it was to bottle all magic into an object, some would wish to go into the future to understand the world, some into the past to change their regrets or the mistakes they made.

This was the latter, but not as imperative as of an old man trying to save his wife from a disease, or a headmaster trying to write his wrongs way back into the 20's.

It was neither as useless as a wizard going back to retrieve his wand when he had already reached the Ministry, simply right in the middle of both ends.

This was of a girl wanting to burn her Hogwarts letter so her parents would not see, and she would not have to go away from the muggle world.

No, it was not because of anger or any form of resentment she shared with any students or teachers, only the nausea and homesickness she was currently fighting.

She wondered if it was common with the rest of the small crowd of first years that she stood with, the feeling that made them want to turn on their feet and run away, but from the looks of it, it was all thrown out of the window the moment they saw the bewitched ceiling above them.

'I suspect it's the Nargles.' Whispered the airy voice from beside her left, pale hair, silver-blue eyes, and an angelic face.

'Hello,' She said to the girl, muting out her father's words of caution, letting her mother's encouraging tune ring in the air.

'Don't wait for someone to ask you to be their friend, do it yourself.'

'I'm Minerva Lavinia Greene. Nice to meet you.' She smiled, bringing her hand out in front of the pale-haired girl.

'Luna Lovegood. You have very beautiful eyes.' The girl replied, bringing out her own palm to return the gesture.

'Thank you.' Mumbled Minerva, warm cheeks burning. "Um… can we be friends?"

'I would love to be your friend.' Came the wispy reply.

'Thank you…um… what are Nargles if I may ask?' Questioned Minnie, attempting to recall the word from any of the books she had read prior to her arrival, but not once hearing of it.

'Oh, it's a creature, I think it might be the Nargles causing the sky to appear like that, they are quite feisty though, you should keep an eye out for them… I hear they quite like to steal others' belongings.' Luna explained, in a tone that made Minerva completely believe her words.

'But Pappa told me it was magic that bewitched it… I think that's what he said… but what did Mamma say? I do have a copy of 'Hogwarts A History' with me… I think it's in my trunk, would you like to read with me sometime?' Rambled Minerva, almost forgetting the nervousness she felt prior, almost.

'Of course, I'd like that. My father gave me a book he wrote about Nargles, I could let you borrow it… if you would like to read it that is?' Asked Luna excitedly.

Minerva noticed how Luna now had her back straight and direct attention towards her, as if talking about Nargles was a passion of hers, her mother asked not to do it, but she desperately wanted too, she was completely sure Luna would pass the test.

Besides, the pale-haired girl was the closest she gotten someone to converse with, others giving clipped answers, others who never bothered to disguise their distaste left abruptly after being asked to be friends with her.

Luna, however accepted without a breath.

'Creevey! Colin!'

Snapping out of her reverie, Minerva realized she was still standing in front of the Great Hall at Hogwarts, with teachers and students scrutinizing Luna, she, and other first years alike; The Sorting Ceremony was also occurring.

'GRYFFINDOR!' Shouted the Sorting Hat, Minerva watched the excited, scrawny blond boy who ran over to the table, snatching a place next to a bushy haired girl, and immediately started to chat.

Minerva turned to Luna. 'What house do you think you'll be in Luna?' She asked.

'I don't know Minerva. I do seem to like Hufflepuff… Ravenclaw perhaps, my parents were there too. What about you?'

'Pappa was Slytherin… but Mamma was Gryffindor…. But she said Aunt Lav was in Hufflepuff… but if you're going to be in Ravenclaw, then-?

'G-Greene…! Minerv-va!'

'That's your name, good luck." Whispered Luna, patting her shoulder.

Minerva looked up, meeting the eyes of the stern-faced witch she had met in the entrance, who explained to her and her housemates about the Houses and the House Cup, even then she had felt the witch looking at her in a somewhat horrified – for the lack of a better word – expression, though never had once spoken to her.

The expression at the entrance was carried all the way over here, this time though, it multiplied, shock seemingly added to the mixture, as Minerva walked, counting each step, her eyes never leaving the professor, she watched the older witch glance back at the man with the long white beard, her headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.

The professor turned back to the nervous Minerva, her eyes locked on the girl's olive face, as if studying her every feature, from the gray eyes that led people to believe she was blind to the wavy, raven tresses that curtained the sides of her face, Minerva was unnerved of the scrutiny of this professor than she was her grandfather's watching her attempts to scale their neighbor's manor.

Finally finding her bearings, Minerva sat herself on the stool, feeling the feathery weight of the Sorting hat being placed on her head, just like her father had described, the throaty and raspy voice spoke to her, while combing through every thought and memory in her head.

'A clever mind – now, aren't you? Curious… very curious. Your lineage precedes you – much calmer and nicer than I thought you would be.'

Minerva could simply hear the hat grinning, it put some of her tension at ease. 'Why did you think I would be mean to you?' She whispered.

'Oh,' The hat chuckled. 'I can read minds but alas – I cannot show you anything – I wish I could though – I'm sure you would have had a funny story to tell your friends.'

'I don't want to offend you… Mr. Sorting Hat, but could you please sort me into any of the houses?' Asked Minerva, seeing that some of the first years, minus Luna started to look impatient.

'Ah, but patience does wear thin in the family I see. Kind as kind can be surely – I can put you in Hufflepuff just to spite father dearest – oh but that might not end well. The heart of a lion, but the cleverness of an eagle – I would make dear old Rowena proud.

Sly as well, a thirst to prove yourself – I've seen that in many, but only three that are worth remembering, now four! You certainly have the ambition – I can hear Salazar yelling at me to put you in Slytherin… but bravery and wit shines the most in you.

But where to put you… Gryffindor or Ravenclaw…'

Luna could be in Ravenclaw though. Minerva thought.

'Oh, but I'll be the judge of that you see. Clever, witty, intelligent… impatient… reckless… but still clever.'

Minerva wondered how long it had been, from the obvious irritation in some and slight curiosity in others, it seemed to be long, peering a quick glance behind, she saw that the stern-faced professor too was exasperated, but Dumbledore looked the opposite if not curious.

'Mr. Sorting Hat?' She whispered.

'All right, all right – let it be… RAVENCLAW!'

Realizing she was satisfied with her house, Minerva stood upright from the stool, a grin plastered on her face. She waved and mouthed a 'good luck' to Luna, the applause slowly dying down as she sat on the space made by a few members of her new house.

The excited handshakes and genuine smile reassured Minerva Greene.

Dear Mamma and Pappa,

I'm finally at Hogwarts, I was so nervous, but I got to see all of Hogwarts from the boat, you were right Pappa, it was so magnificent and huge. I don't know what it was, but it immediately gave me the feeling of being with you two like it was home, but a lot more people in it. I went inside with the others and the castle looked even bigger from inside, we were met with a professor who told us about our houses, I already knew but some of the others didn't. This teacher was looking at me in a funny way though, I didn't know why.

But then I learned that her name is also Minerva, but her last name is McGonagall. Isn't that crazy Mamma? I've never met another Minerva in my life, she teaches Transfiguration, she does look a little scary, but I think she looks nicer compared to Professor Snape who teaches Potions, he looks as he's never heard of shampoo and sunlight.

I hope you would like to know that I was sorted into Ravenclaw. I'm so happy, I hope you aren't mad Pappa, I'm not worried about Mamma, I know she will be proud of me either way, besides, it is the same as our Order, they symbolize eagles, I love it here.

I've already made a few friends, there's Luna Lovegood from my year, only a few words and I know she and I will be amazing friends, then there is Padma Patil, she's a year above me as well as Lisa Turpin, they were both very nice and told me more about Hogwarts.

How are you two doing? What about grandpa? Is he still grumpy? Don't tell him I said that Mamma. What about your research Pappa? Have you two caught any of those bad Templars? Tell me everything about it if you did. I love you both very much and I miss being home.

With love,

Minnie

Putting her quill back into the ink pot beside her, Minerva neatly closed the envelope, and tied it to the talons of Nox, the Greater Sooty Owl preened, as if to tell Minerva she was perfectly capable to deliver the letter without any enforcement to her legs, but Minerva was not taking any chances.

'Don't get lost Nox, that letter is important.' She whispered, caressing the owl's mystical gray, almost black feathers, before letting it out, watching as the nocturnal creature soar away.

With a satisfied smile, she closed the dorm window, her eyes lingered on the glowing moon outside, before turning away, realizing her need for sleep.

Clad in her nightclothes, Minerva laid down gently on the comfortable mattress, beside her slept Luna, peaceful and soundless.

Minerva smiled, just as she had hoped, her first friend had also been sorted into Ravenclaw as she was, she lost count of the time she assured herself that it would all be all right, maybe one more would not hurt.

Minerva fell asleep, the mantra chanting in her mind.