Prologue: The Woman Who Started It All.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was suffused in a warm Scottish glow as day dawned and assorted members of the faculty ambled and flew back from their holiday homes before the start of term, refreshed and revived. Easter bunnies hopped metaphorically amongst the crocuses and the whole castle was the picture of sunbathed idyll as it very often was.
All that is, except for a few dank rooms located in the bowels of the building where the gloomy atmosphere was matched only by that of the potions master who resided there. He always dreaded the start of term, as did many of the staff, though none where quite as adept at expressing their views on the matter as Snape was. He assumed that that obnoxious twat Harry would be returning to complete his OWLs, and passing with flying colours no bloody doubt. It was only because his own life hinged on the fact, that he didn't pray for Voldemort to kill the arrogant boy. He ground his teeth together, splattering red ink all over Hermione Granger's extra credit assignment.
He glanced down and rolled his eyes. Well really, did she expect him to get down on his knees or something? He supposed he had to admit that she was bright, but only in a tedious textbook kind of way. Then again, Snape longed for the day he could have a pupil with half the talent of Miss Granger become a member of his house. Merlin knew Slytherin needed some good publicity for a change and even a bookworm like Hermione would be a welcome addition to that inbred pool of perverts.
He sneered. All he needed now was that carrot topped coattail flyer Weasley to come and join the party and his day would be complete.
There was a light tapping on his door.
It was one of those cold Mondays. The type that looks like it's going to be warm and bright in the morning as you get dressed but turn out to be absolutely freezing once you step outside. It was on one of these Mondays that Gwen was expelled from her suburban grammar school.
What would her parents say when they found out? She could just imagine the heart-wrenching look of disappointment on their faces. Although she had never been very close to them, she had always strove desperately for their approval and praise. She could feel her last connection to her parents slipping slowly from her grasp and there was nothing she could do about it.
She knew that what the Head had done was extreme, but her parents would automatically assume the worst as they always did, afterall she wasn't in possession of a perfect track record as it was. Oh God, what was she going to do? There was no way she would find another school this late in the year. Not unless some kind of miracle happened, and she had given up on those a long time ago. Gwen felt her future dreams slip slowly from between her fingers like thick oil, her chest heaved as she gasped for breath.
Several girls she didn't recognise passed her in the hall, sending vulture- like glances at her over their shoulders before turning to one another and whispering cruelly as their high shoes clicked on the wooden floor. Gwen wiped her damp nose unappealingly on her sleeve, eliciting loud satisfying squelch.
Picking up her bag she slumped into the girls' toilets and let the tears come.
Janice Silverine was cooking a fish stew for her family's supper. Carefully, she chopped some carrots as she hummed along to Bruce Springsteen on Radio Two. She was just moving on to the potatoes when the doorbell rang. Wiping her hands on her plastic floral apron and then straightening her skirt, she opened the front door.
In front of her a middle aged, slim woman with a stern face and wearing a strangely designed emerald green dress, was waiting to be let in. Under any normal circumstances she would have opened the door widely and offered her guest a cup of tea, but this was not someone she recognised as a part of her close-knit community. Janice systematically ran through all the people she knew. Women from aerobics...no, not one of them...someone from the local primary school where she was governor...no...the woman from the corner shop.....no...the mother of one of Gwen's friends...no...no...no...eventually she drew a blank. Frowning slightly she asked the woman if she knew her from somewhere and was confirmed in the fact that no, she did not.
Three very strong cups of tea and a quarter of a packet of rich tea biscuits later, Janice Silverine looked at the woman before her in a new light. Things like this just didn't happen in Greenwich. Everything is nice and ordered, everyone trims their hedges and says good morning. No scandal. No extremes. Just nice suburban life. Nice. Just how she liked it. She took a long sip of her fourth cup of tea. Will wonders never cease? She smiled slightly to herself, and then realised that the other woman had begun to speak again.
"Of course, because this is such short notice I have taken the liberty of bringing all that she needs here with me." She gestured to a minute trunk on her saucer, "I am afraid that it is of grave importance that she joins the school. However, if you should decide not to let her enrol then we will have no choice but to respect that decision. Although you would both be in great danger if you did so." Minerva met the eyes of the woman in front of her. She seemed to be coming round. "I am sure that you know what I am implying."
The woman appeared to ignore the only-just-veiled warning, "Well, this is most unusual...but I think I know what you want to achieve." Janice smiled ruefully, "Of course I will have to ask Gwendolyn if she wants to go and it will ultimately be her decision." Her face fell slightly. "However, it will be a shame to see her academic mind go to waste...she could have gone far in this world you know." Janice seemed to be slightly wistful.
"I have no doubt of that Mrs Silverine." Minerva, stood to leave. The two women exchanged farewells but the distance between the two of them was amazingly apparent, the woman before Minerva didn't live up to the woman she had been expecting to see. It seemed that the muggle world had done her more harm than good; in more ways than one. Minerva hoped that the girl would be more adaptable.
"I hope to see you soon, then, Ms. McGonnagal." Janice escorted her guest to the door. Minerva pressed a thick cream envelope into the hands of the other woman who clutched her arm just before she reached the door, "Take good care of her won't you?" Janice's face held a look of pleading, pain and heartbreaking acceptance. Minerva nodded and left.
As she transfigured back into a cat at the end of the road she doubted whether she would ever see the woman again. She just hoped the loss was not in vain.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was suffused in a warm Scottish glow as day dawned and assorted members of the faculty ambled and flew back from their holiday homes before the start of term, refreshed and revived. Easter bunnies hopped metaphorically amongst the crocuses and the whole castle was the picture of sunbathed idyll as it very often was.
All that is, except for a few dank rooms located in the bowels of the building where the gloomy atmosphere was matched only by that of the potions master who resided there. He always dreaded the start of term, as did many of the staff, though none where quite as adept at expressing their views on the matter as Snape was. He assumed that that obnoxious twat Harry would be returning to complete his OWLs, and passing with flying colours no bloody doubt. It was only because his own life hinged on the fact, that he didn't pray for Voldemort to kill the arrogant boy. He ground his teeth together, splattering red ink all over Hermione Granger's extra credit assignment.
He glanced down and rolled his eyes. Well really, did she expect him to get down on his knees or something? He supposed he had to admit that she was bright, but only in a tedious textbook kind of way. Then again, Snape longed for the day he could have a pupil with half the talent of Miss Granger become a member of his house. Merlin knew Slytherin needed some good publicity for a change and even a bookworm like Hermione would be a welcome addition to that inbred pool of perverts.
He sneered. All he needed now was that carrot topped coattail flyer Weasley to come and join the party and his day would be complete.
There was a light tapping on his door.
It was one of those cold Mondays. The type that looks like it's going to be warm and bright in the morning as you get dressed but turn out to be absolutely freezing once you step outside. It was on one of these Mondays that Gwen was expelled from her suburban grammar school.
What would her parents say when they found out? She could just imagine the heart-wrenching look of disappointment on their faces. Although she had never been very close to them, she had always strove desperately for their approval and praise. She could feel her last connection to her parents slipping slowly from her grasp and there was nothing she could do about it.
She knew that what the Head had done was extreme, but her parents would automatically assume the worst as they always did, afterall she wasn't in possession of a perfect track record as it was. Oh God, what was she going to do? There was no way she would find another school this late in the year. Not unless some kind of miracle happened, and she had given up on those a long time ago. Gwen felt her future dreams slip slowly from between her fingers like thick oil, her chest heaved as she gasped for breath.
Several girls she didn't recognise passed her in the hall, sending vulture- like glances at her over their shoulders before turning to one another and whispering cruelly as their high shoes clicked on the wooden floor. Gwen wiped her damp nose unappealingly on her sleeve, eliciting loud satisfying squelch.
Picking up her bag she slumped into the girls' toilets and let the tears come.
Janice Silverine was cooking a fish stew for her family's supper. Carefully, she chopped some carrots as she hummed along to Bruce Springsteen on Radio Two. She was just moving on to the potatoes when the doorbell rang. Wiping her hands on her plastic floral apron and then straightening her skirt, she opened the front door.
In front of her a middle aged, slim woman with a stern face and wearing a strangely designed emerald green dress, was waiting to be let in. Under any normal circumstances she would have opened the door widely and offered her guest a cup of tea, but this was not someone she recognised as a part of her close-knit community. Janice systematically ran through all the people she knew. Women from aerobics...no, not one of them...someone from the local primary school where she was governor...no...the woman from the corner shop.....no...the mother of one of Gwen's friends...no...no...no...eventually she drew a blank. Frowning slightly she asked the woman if she knew her from somewhere and was confirmed in the fact that no, she did not.
Three very strong cups of tea and a quarter of a packet of rich tea biscuits later, Janice Silverine looked at the woman before her in a new light. Things like this just didn't happen in Greenwich. Everything is nice and ordered, everyone trims their hedges and says good morning. No scandal. No extremes. Just nice suburban life. Nice. Just how she liked it. She took a long sip of her fourth cup of tea. Will wonders never cease? She smiled slightly to herself, and then realised that the other woman had begun to speak again.
"Of course, because this is such short notice I have taken the liberty of bringing all that she needs here with me." She gestured to a minute trunk on her saucer, "I am afraid that it is of grave importance that she joins the school. However, if you should decide not to let her enrol then we will have no choice but to respect that decision. Although you would both be in great danger if you did so." Minerva met the eyes of the woman in front of her. She seemed to be coming round. "I am sure that you know what I am implying."
The woman appeared to ignore the only-just-veiled warning, "Well, this is most unusual...but I think I know what you want to achieve." Janice smiled ruefully, "Of course I will have to ask Gwendolyn if she wants to go and it will ultimately be her decision." Her face fell slightly. "However, it will be a shame to see her academic mind go to waste...she could have gone far in this world you know." Janice seemed to be slightly wistful.
"I have no doubt of that Mrs Silverine." Minerva, stood to leave. The two women exchanged farewells but the distance between the two of them was amazingly apparent, the woman before Minerva didn't live up to the woman she had been expecting to see. It seemed that the muggle world had done her more harm than good; in more ways than one. Minerva hoped that the girl would be more adaptable.
"I hope to see you soon, then, Ms. McGonnagal." Janice escorted her guest to the door. Minerva pressed a thick cream envelope into the hands of the other woman who clutched her arm just before she reached the door, "Take good care of her won't you?" Janice's face held a look of pleading, pain and heartbreaking acceptance. Minerva nodded and left.
As she transfigured back into a cat at the end of the road she doubted whether she would ever see the woman again. She just hoped the loss was not in vain.