Written for the Golden Snitch Prompt of the Day challenge. Prompt: Sunflowers
August 4th 1971
Minerva walked down the small, narrow pavements of Cokeworth, her hair up in a tight bun despite it being the holidays. Smoothing down her blue skirt, she couldn't help but feel uneasy in her Muggle clothing. Having not worn some in such a long time, she had become used to the feel of robes and now found her old clothes uncomfortable.
Turning a sharp corner, she nevertheless continued to march at her usual brisk pace despite the difference in clothes, shoes and her general attire. Hoping that she didn't look too strict, a reputation she had now secured, she took a deep breath and tried to smile as she walked up the steps of number 36 and knocked on its sunflower painted door.
The door swung open almost immediately and Minerva took a step back, a little startled. A small girl was standing at the door. She was pale, freckled and had long brown silky hair, which fell to down below her hips. She was pretty however, there was something in her eyes, which was accusing, almost hateful.
Minerva cleared her throat, "Hello, I am here to talk to your parents; Mr and Mrs Evan, am I correct?"
"I'm sorry but my parents don't want to talk to you people again. Go knock on somebody else's door," answered the young girl abruptly, already in the process of closing the door.
"I'm afraid I really do need to speak to your parents. Are they home?" asked Minerva more firmly, already getting the feeling that things were not going to go as planned.
The girl opened the door a little wider, stared at Minerva before grumbling and calling her parents, "Mum, Dad! A woman at the door wants to speak to you!" the girl turned back to face Minerva and eyed her up and down, judging her by the looks of it.
Minerva felt her stomach twist, but nonetheless kept her face straight and waited for the Evans' to come down, trying to ignore the girl's rude stares.
Finally, after what felt like an age, Mrs Evans appeared from the kitchen, a spatula in her hand and flour all over her apron. She was promptly followed by Mr Evans who had a large cookery book in his hands.
"Ok, off you go now, Petunia," said Mrs Evans, patting her daughter on the shoulder who ran back into the house, chancing a small stare at Minerva before she disappeared up the stairs, "Look, I am truly sorry but we don't want your subscription alright? We have already told your friend over there but –"
"I am not here about a subscription," interrupted Minerva and, before Mrs Evans had even the time to share a confused look with her husband, Minerva continued, "I am here about your daughter Lily –"
"Lily? You're not one of her teacher's are you? I am sorry if she has caused any trouble but as I said the last time: it is impossible for her to have made flowers grow on her table!" said Mr Evans rather heatedly and Minerva tried her best not to roll her eyes; this was going to be difficult. Well at least she hadn't come to the wrong house, she thought tiredly.
Clearing her throat she said, "I am a Professor at a school, however, a different school from the one Lily is at. Your daughter has been accepted to the secondary school I work at and I would like to discuss with you whether or not she would like to go. May I come in?" she asked, hoping that she wouldn't have to stay out on the doorstep for the next hour; this was the usual time it took for people to come to terms with what they had just heard.
Clearly baffled, Mr Evans looked at his wife, eyed Minerva suspiciously then asked, "Which school?"
"The school is called Hogwarts," informed Minerva, hoping she would not have to use her wand for them to let her in.
"I don't remember ever having signed Lily up for a school called Hogwarts. I've never heard of it before," grumbled Mr Evans.
"You don't sign up to Hogwarts. It is a school for the very – gifted and your daughter has been invited to join," Minerva clicked her heels together and continued rather briskly, "Now, may I come in so that we can discuss things further?"
Mr Evans looked suspiciously at Minerva then at his wife who shrugged, "Come in," he muttered and he opened the door a little wider, stepping aside to let Minerva pass.
Minerva sighed and felt her whole body relax, however, she quickly picked up her guard again and followed Mrs Evans who was guiding her into what she supposed was the living room.
"Um – here, just take a seat, um, do you want some tea?" asked Mrs Evan, looking highly uncomfortable and gesturing at a hardback chair in the left corner of the room.
"No thank you," answered Minerva, folding her hands on her lap as she sat down on the chair.
"Oh, well – um I'll just get my husband and then we can talk about it all, all together?" Mrs Evans gestured to the hallway where no doubt Mr Evans was still standing.
"I'll wait for you here," replied Minerva tartly as Mrs Evans smoothed down her skirt and walked towards the doorway, shooting a last furtive glance in Minerva's direction before she disappeared from the room, decorated with many sunflowers in vases.
Minerva crossed her legs and placed her hands on her lap again. She felt a little uncomfortable in the house of people she had never met before. In addition to that, she was also a little nervous about the upcoming news she was about to drop on the couple. She had never done this before however, Dumbledore thought it wise that it should now be the job of the Deputy Headmistress to go and give the letters personally to muggleborn students. Sighing Minerva crossed her legs again, moving her left leg, which had been at the top, down so that it was the right was covering the left.
"How do you know she isn't lying?" whispered someone hurriedly from the corridor.
Minerva frowned and despite knowing that eavesdropping was rude, she could not help but strain her ears as she tried to listen to the rest of the conversation.
"She said she was from a school, Edward! Why would she lie about something like that? How would she know Lily's name or ours for that matter if Lily had not been accepted at her school?" whispered back Mrs Evans.
"Clare, she could be anybody," said Mr Evans rather lamely and Minerva knew that his wife had won.
"The woman said she was from a school that accepted gifted people. With Lily's strange school reports only one secondary school accepted her and if I am honest I did not particularly like that one. If Lily has a place at a different school we should give it a chance, listen to what the woman says and maybe visit it if it sounds good. This might be the right thing for Lily. They might be able to understand her more at Hogwarts," replied Mrs Evans, almost pleadingly.
There was a pause and Minerva had the faint impression that Mrs Evans was desperate to send Lily to a different school. If she was allowing a complete stranger to come into their home and take her word verbatim then Lily was most definitely the person Minerva was looking for.
"Fine," answered Mr Evans after awhile, "but I'm not buying it until I have proof. I've never heard of a so-called 'Hogwarts'. I don't trust her and neither should you."
There were a few heavy footsteps as the couple walked towards the living room door and Minerva tried to arrange her features into one of seriousness and business so as to look more credible. Thank goodness she was brought up by muggles else she would not have been clever enough to try and wear the appropriate clothing, thought Minerva clearly remembering the many wizards she had crossed on the streets of London wearing pyjamas or mismatched clothes.
Mrs Evans entered the room first and she smiled warmly at Minerva, "I am sorry to keep you waiting Ms, um…"
"Minerva McGonagall," filled in Minerva, smiling a thin-lipped smile at the couple as they both sat down on chairs opposite Minerva's.
"Well, Minerva, could you – hum – tell us a little more about Hog," Mrs Evans frowned, trying to think of whether she had gotten the name right, "Um, Hogwarts?" she finished.
"Well, as I have said before Hogwarts is a school for gifted children such as your daughter Lily. I think I am right in saying that Lily has shown some rather different abilities at school and at home?" asked Minerva, her heart beating fast in her chest as she changed her plan every five seconds, trying to think of a correct way of telling Mr and Mrs Evans about Lily and Hogwarts.
Mr Evans frowned, leaned forwards and pressed the tips of his fingers together, an action, which reminded Minerva highly of Dumbledore, "So what are you saying exactly?" he asked.
Minerva thought quickly, "Your daughter has some rare abilities that the people at my school aim to improve and perfect. We are looking for children, like your daughter, who possess these abilities," swallowing, Minerva thought for a while before continuing, "Hogwarts is a school for witches and wizards," she said bluntly, not able to find any other way to tell them of Lily's nature.
There were a few minutes of silence and Minerva allowed the couple some time to process the information they had been given.
Then, suddenly, "Preposterous!" boomed Mr Evans however, something in the look in his eye told Minerva that some part of him believed her.
"What do you mean witches and wizards?" asked Mrs Evans almost whispering.
"What I mean to say is that your daughter is a witch, able to perform magic which my colleagues and I aim to refine and improve," informed Minerva.
"But, but…" stuttered Mr Evans, however, his stuttering was cut short as a small girl with dark red hair and brilliant green eyes burst into the living room.
"Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting?" she asked, cheeks flushed and the broad smile, which had been on her face seconds before, slowly disappearing.
Before either Mrs or Mr Evans could answer, Minerva, stood up and walked towards the girl, "No, not at all. Actually, I think it best if you stayed."
"Lily, this is – um – Professor McGonagall. She is from a school called Hogwarts and she is offering you a place there," said Mrs Evans suddenly, having recovered more from the previous shock than her husband who had now started to twist his fingers in agitation.
Lily looked confused for a moment, however; her face soon lit up so completely that Minerva was a little shocked, "Hello, Professor McGonagall," she said brightly, "I'm Lily Evans," she said, sticking out a pale, freckled hand for Minerva to shake.
Sorry for the late update, I have been so busy these past few weeks. Anyway, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'd love to hear what you think about it! I realize the ending isn't great but the chapter was getting a bit long… Have a great day! :D