A/N: Updated as of April 2021.

For disclaimer, please see the prologue.

Chapter Three: January 16, 1938

Minerva walked into the common room and sighed. In his infinite logic, Callum had decided to leave the Christmas decorations up for January, claiming that far too many people would be too sad otherwise. She did like Christmas, but Minerva found that the constant reminders made her miss home. It had been fantastic to go home for the holidays. In celebration of Minerva's new House, her mother had knitted many Gryffindor-themed scarves and sweaters for her to wear while at Hogwarts. As always, Mr. McGonagall was utterly disdainful of anything magical, but Minerva found she was too happy to notice. To top it off, her mother had bought her a brand new broom. Given that they lived in a muggle town, Minerva hadn't yet tried it out. She was excited to finally fly with Diana and Callum, which they had promised at home, but now back at the castle, her siblings were too preoccupied to engage in the superfluous flying practice. Callum had grudgingly started preparing for his OWLs and was balancing being a Gryffindor chaser with his Prefect duties. Diana was much in the same boat; she played as a seeker for Ravenclaw, and as Head Girl studying for her NEWTs, she often had the appearance of someone who had lost their mind. With that thought, Minerva banished thoughts of her broomstick upstairs and opened her charms book.

"Minnie!" Callum bounded down the stairs, Aidan at his heels. Aidan was proving to be his shadow, more often than not. "Don't tell me you're studying, too."

"When will you stop calling me that?" Minerva didn't bother to look up. "Besides, Professor Johnson asked a question yesterday, and I only knew part of the answer. That surely won't do when it comes time for exams." She tried to swallow the rising bitterness, but she was unsuccessful. "Besides, you and Di are so busy lately that I need to occupy my time with something."

"Hey, McGonagall, that's not fair!" Aidan sat down beside her. "You have me, and Augusta and Rowena and everyone else. We're the real keepers around here, aren't we? We'll be here long after they graduate. C'mon, help me prank the Bloody Baron!"

"Do tell me, Aidan," Minerva quirked her eyebrow and pursed her lips, "how on earth does one prank a ghost?"

"You look bloody scary when you do that," Aidan shuddered. "I don't know exactly yet, but that's why I need you! You're sure to figure it out for me."

"Nah, she's more likely to figure out a way to get you out of trouble," Callum grinned. "My sister may be brilliant, but she also has a nasty obsession with self-preservation."

Minerva's eyes turned stormy. "I'll have you know, brother, that some of us would rather be known for our wit and our smart choices, not just what we get caught doing in darkened hallways."

Callum's ears reddened, causing Aidan to look bewilderedly between the two. "Cal, what does she mean? What the heck did you do?"

"My Prefect brother decided to get caught snogging Lucy Peverell behind the Hufflepuff statue the other day," Minerva smirked.

"How in the bloody hell did you find out about that?" Callum was starting to resemble a lobster.

"Oh, one hears things," Minerva waved her hand. "When Prefects are caught engaging in such salacious acts, the Head Girl and Boy are always informed. The Head Girl may or may not have told the Ravenclaw Prefects off, warning them about the dangers of love on the job. This may have happened in the common room, where Rowena overheard the whole conversation. Ro told me," Minerva shrugged.

"I'll kill all of you," Callum whispered. "You, Rowena, Di. The three of you are so dead. You will all find yourselves in bloody Dublin without any clothes by the time I'm done with you!"

Minerva and Aidan laughed. "What are you going to do, Cal?" she teased her brother. "That reminds me, what am I supposed to call Lucy now? Prefect? Sister? My brother's snogging partner? What do you think she would like, hmm?"

Callum responded by sending a pillow flying into her face.

"Watch it!" Minerva and Callum were sending pillows back and forth, chasing each other around the room. Aidan laughed and laughed, annoying everyone else in the common room. Soon enough, Aidan had joined in by charming the Christmas tree star to bop them on the head as they ran along.

"You'll pay for that one, Minnie!" Callum shouted as a candy cane hooked around his elbow, twisting him so that he fell into the tree.

"That one -woah- was Aidan!" Minerva gasped breathlessly, stomping on a gingerbread man that was attempting to climb her legs. She shot a hex at Aidan, making him trip. "Watch where you're going, eh?"

From the ground, Aidan tripped her right back before unleashing snowmen figurines on her. He chortled as they crawled on her back, whipping her with their scarves. "I could say the same for you, McGonagall! Crikey, I hate Christmas." Aidan moaned when Callum wrapped the two of them up in tinsel.

"I think that's what you call checkmate," Callum stood proudly above the two. "Let this be a lesson: don't ever mess with your prefects, folks. Especially those that are much more skilled than you."

He didn't see it coming when Minerva tackled him to the ground. The three of them kept going, trying to outdo each other. They were so distracted that they didn't hear the portrait open and close.

"What, may I ask, is going on here?" Professor Dumbledore thundered, his eyes ablaze. Minerva had never seen him look so angry.

"Sorry, Professor. Just a bit of fun." Callum stopped the ornamentation from flying around and put everything back in its proper place. "We were teasing each other, we didn't mean to bother you."

Professor Dumbledore sighed. "You didn't bother me, Mr. McGonagall. I was on my way to the tower anyway. While I'm happy to see you having fun, I need you and Miss McGonagall to follow me outside for a moment. Quickly, if you please." He turned and walked back through the portrait.

"Guess we better go," Callum ran his hands through his hair. "What do you reckon he wants?"

"How would I know, Callum?" Minerva told him as they walked through the portrait.

"Now, I need both of you to keep up with me," Professor Dumbledore told them before leading them through the corridor.

"Professor, what is going on?" Minerva panted, struggling to keep up with his long legs. "Where are we going?"

"Your sister was in an accident," Professor Dumbledore said gravely, never once breaking his stride. "The elder Miss McGonagall was on the quidditch pitch with her fellow Ravenclaw teammates preparing for the upcoming match. It appears that her broom was hexed before practice began. She is in the Hospital Wing, and Madam Prewett thought it might do her some good for you two to go visit."

"WHAT?" Callum shouted. "Are you serious? Professor, what happened?"

Minerva's blood ran cold. She had never heard Callum shout before, not like that. Slipping her hand around his arm, she squeezed his arm, attempting to infuse him with a little love. He thanked her with a quick smile that wasn't quite believable. She felt her stomach turn and twist in anticipation. Diana, much like Callum, seemed infallible to her. They were her older siblings that could do no wrong. Callum was wild, Diana steady. He made Minerva laugh, while Diana instilled a sense of responsibility in her younger sister. The thought that someone could hurt Diana broke the safety bubble that Minerva had erected at Hogwarts.

Professor Dumbledore's voice broke her out of her reverie. "Now, listen, you two. Your sister is asleep. Madam Prewett believed it best to keep her that way so that she could better assess for injuries. The elder Miss McGonagall, well," he paused briefly, almost as though he didn't want to say the next words. "She had quite a fall. We hope she will make a full recovery, but she most certainly won't be playing Quidditch again soon. You can go in and visit with her- she'll be able to sense you're there, which will hopefully relax her. Please be respectful of the other patients and keep quiet."

Minerva and Callum followed Professor Dumbledore to Diana's bed. When he opened the curtains, Minerva completely forgot her professor's request and screamed bloody murder.

Diana's hair was completed matted, and branches were woven throughout. Her right leg seemed to be without any bones at the moment, bent at an impossible angle. There was a bandage across her stomach, stained with blood. To make it worse, there was a large bruise, rapidly forming along the right edge of Diana's face. Diagnostic spells were whirling over various parts of her body, and while Minerva wasn't a healer, she knew enough to know that the prognosis looked grim.

"I know it's unnerving, dear, but you can't be screaming in here," Madam Prewett reprimanded kindly. "I'll make sure she's running the school again as soon as she can. Come hold her hand," she guided Minerva to one side of the bed. "You too, Mr. McGonagall," the matron added, leading him to the other.

"Professor Dumbledore, do you know who did this?" Callum's face was white as he spoke to his Head of House, not once taking his eyes off of his sister.

"We believe so, yes. I will tell you more in my office. Let's just stay here a bit and show her that you love her, alright?" their Professor smiled gently.

Minerva was terrified. More terrified than she had ever felt in her entire life. Yes, she knew magic could be dark and twisted and evil. It was the same way one knows that the world is dangerous. The darkness exists, but fear festers, which usually just brings about more evil if you focus on it. That's what her father preached about on Sundays, anyway. At this moment, Minerva suddenly realized what it was like to love someone so much you'd commit evil for them. Shockingly, she didn't find the sensation utterly displeasing.

Minerva was in such a state that she didn't notice Madam Prewett take Professor Dumbledore aside. "Albus, I think it's best if you take them back now. Mr. McGonagall seems to be in shock, and Miss McGonagall..." Madam Prewett trailed off. "She's crying, and she doesn't even know it herself."

Albus forced himself to look at Minerva McGonagall. Tears were running down her face, but she was silent. Stoic, really. He could see fear and hatred and love shining through her eyes as she looked at her older sister. "Quite right, Lavinia. I'll take them now. Please, let me know if anything changes with her condition." He turned to his students. "It's time we left Madam Prewett to do her job in peace. If you follow me, we'll go to my office."

The trio walked silently up to his office. Dumbledore thanked Merlin that for whatever reason, the corridors were blissfully silent. Upon arrival, he opened his door and waited for the McGonagalls to trickle in behind him before closing it again. "Have a seat, please." He gestured towards the two large cushioned chairs facing his desk as he moved around to sit down in his own chair. When he turned back around, he saw that the chairs had transformed into wooden, high-backed chairs that, to be frank, looked highly uncomfortable.

"Thanks for that, Minnie," Callum rolled his eyes and slumped into one of the chairs.

"I didn't mean to, Cal. I'm sorry, Professor," Minerva hung her head.

"It's quite alright, Miss McGonagall. In stressful times such as these, it isn't uncommon for students to let some accidental magic out," her professor soothed. "Sit down, please."

"Professor, you said you thought you knew who did this?" Callum asked.

"I did say that, yes," Professor Dumbledore steepled his fingers. "I'm hesitant to tell you both, though, until the Headmaster has determined exactly what happened."

"Dumbledore, that was my sister laying in the Hospital Wing!" Callum shouted, forgoing propriety and letting his fear take over. "I'm supposed to protect her! Both of them! You can't just expect me to sit here quietly and do nothing!"

Albus winced at those words, understanding better than his student could ever know. Perhaps that was why he indulged the young man in front of him. Sighing, he said, "We found a group of Slytherins hiding amongst the stands. They were laughing when your sister fell. The group consisted of Renata Lestrange, Lysander Black, Gideon Goyle, and Katrina Rowle."

Minerva looked up at the sound of Katrina's name. "What will their punishments be, Professor?"

"Unfortunately, that's not for me to decide. Professor Dippet, as Headmaster, is meeting with Professors Slughorn and Wildsmith as Heads of Slytherin and Ravenclaw, to determine the best-"

"Oh, that's bollocks!" Callum interrupted, jumping out of the chair. "You are Deputy Headmaster! You can't tell me that you shouldn't be at that meeting! Go in there and blow the whole thing up! Dumbledore, er, Professor," he hastily corrected himself, knowing that he wouldn't get away with insubordination twice, "please. I'm begging you. You know that Professor Wildsmith will be logical, as all bloody Ravenclaws are, but Professor Slughorn hates doling out punishments, and Professor Dippet won't push! They'll get away with no more than detention!"

"Mr. McGonagall, I can assure you that they'll certainly receive more than detention. You have my word on that," Dumbledore said firmly. "And while I am Deputy Headmaster, the Headmaster prefers to handle disciplinary matters on his own." No matter how badly he handles them, he added silently.

Callum started at his Head for a moment. "Professor, are you telling me, that as one of our fairer teachers, who has sufficient rank at this school, that you won't be able to intervene?"

"I have no reason to believe that the punishment won't fit the crime, Mr. McGonagall."

"Professor, will you intervene if it doesn't? Can I have your word on that?"

"If I feel that the punishment is unfair, yes, I will." He held his hand up to prevent his student from interrupting him again. "You have my word."

"And finally, Professor, if something unfortunate were to befall this particular group of Slytherins, would you turn a blind eye and call it even?

"Are you planning on a career in law enforcement?" Despite the situation, there was a bemused smile playing on Dumbledore's lips. He chanced a look at Minerva, who watched this interaction with an astonished expression on her face.

"I very well might be, depending on what happens here." Callum's eyes were ablaze with fury. "Professor, I think it might be best if I resign as Prefect. I'm about to curse their asses, and I'd rather resign than have the position be taken from me." He ripped the badge off of his robes and offered it to Dumbledore.

"I do not accept your resignation, Mr. McGonagall," Dumbledore rubbed his temples. "That badge is the only thing stopping you from attacking those Slytherins, and I cannot have you brandishing your wand about and opening fire on other students. You are smarter than this. Miss Lestrange and Mr. Goyle are in your year, I suggest you strive to perform better than them on the OWLs. As for Mr. Black, if you were to advise the Gryffindor beaters to focus on him during our next match, I wouldn't terribly mind. And as for Miss Rowle," Albus looked at Minerva, "I firmly believe your sister will be able to best her in any manner she chooses. These manners are not to include force and duelling, have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, Professor," Minerva whispered, pulling her brother down to sit down again.

"Good. Besides, Mr. McGonagall, you're a very impressive Prefect. Never before have I had a Prefect so good at wreaking havoc on the rest of the school," Dumbledore chuckled. "I wouldn't know how to replace you, nor do I want to. And if you really are serious about a career in law enforcement," he continued, "come and see me, and we'll discuss what to do about your OWLs."

Callum blushed. "Yes, Professor Dumbledore. Thank you. I'll definitely do that. And thank you for your kindness today."

"Oh, it's no trouble. I apologize for interrupting your fun in the common room. I sincerely hope that your sister has a full recovery. If there is any change in her condition, I shall endeavour to let you know as quickly as possible. Now, if you two will head back to the tower, I believe there is a disciplinary meeting I should probably attend." Dumbledore strode over to the door and opened it, winking at Callum as he left.

The two McGonagalls headed back to Gryffindor Tower in silence, sliding onto a couch upon arrival. After an inordinate amount of time had passed, they felt rather than saw two others sit beside them.

"Hey," Lucy said softly, looping an arm through Callum's, resting her head on his shoulder. "Dumbledore told the rest of the Prefects what happened. He had to; we had to alter our patrol schedule. How is she?"

"She'll be on bed rest for a couple of weeks, but she should pull through with no more than a slight limp in the end," Callum recited, handing her a note that had appeared for the McGonagalls from Madam Prewett. "Thank Merlin."

"That's good news," Aidan said tentatively, looking like he didn't quite know how to support his friends. Minerva looked at him, a questioning look on her face. "Lucy told me; she figured you might need a friend," he offered as an explanation. "Do you know who did it?"

"Yea," Minerva snorted grumpily. "Your cousin has a proclivity for inducing bodily injury, apparently."

"Woah, Katrina did it? Let's get her back!" Aidan bounced on the couch. "C'mon, I've wanted to hex her for months!"

"No, Aid," Callum sighed. "We've got to do it sneakily. Through Quidditch and House Points and making them look like idiots in front of the professors. As much as I hate them, Diana will be okay. That's the important thing," he smiled mischievously, "and next year, when Diana is gone, and everyone has cooled down, we'll be able to make our move."

Lucy and Minerva groaned, already dreading the next school year.