McGonagall's Daughter is the very first piece of fanfiction I wrote. While it is certainly not my best, I like it because it was my first. I've gone back and done a bit of editing...it may take me awhile becasue there are 24 chapters, but I will do my best to improve this story. I am also going to keep the original author notes, just for my own pleasure. Even though this fic has been finished for some time now I, like all writers, appreciate reviews.
Warning: the main character is one of my own original characters-if you don't like OCs or fics that are slightly non-canon leave now. Please do not read this then leave me nasty replies about mary sues or silly plot lines.
Disclaimer: I am not JKR, I only own the characters that are not from the Harry Potter books. I have merely used my feeble imagination to expand upon the genius of J.K. Rowling for the enjoyment of myself and any others who choose to read it.
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Suppressing her laughter, Celeste Potak crouched behind the stature of Fauna the Faint just outside the Arithmancy classroom and watched two third year boys fill the lock of the caretaker's broomcloset with instant cement. As a prefect Celeste knew she should have stopped the well known Ravenclaw pranksters the moment they crept into the, seemingly, empty hallway clutching their bags suspiciously. However, having a bit of a mischievous streak herself, she had decided to give them a small start on their prank before pulling one herself.
Just as Celeste was about to spring out from behind the statue and scare the daylights out of the two boys, a young man turned down the hallway and, catching sight of the two little devils, quickened his pace.
Jumping back behind the statue, Celeste cursed herself silently. Of all the people to show up when she was fooling around!
At the sound of approaching footsteps the boys spun around and groaned as they came face to face with the handsome Gryffindor sixth year. Remus Lupin smiled down at the two.
"Godfrey, East," he said gently."If you keep up these attacks against Mr. Pringle I will have to report you to Professor Flitwick. I think it would be best to leave Mr. Pringle alone, he's too old to put up with your pranks."
The two boys mumbled their apologies and shouldered their bags before shuffling away shamefaced. Behind the statue, Celeste bit her lip, she knew if she had confronted those boys, they never would have left off so easily.
Peering over the swooning witch's shoulder Celeste watched Remus crouch down to dislodge the already hardened cement from the lock and fervently wished he would go away. The last thing she wanted was for Remus Lupin to find her lurking behind a statue after she had just shirked her prefect duties. Finally, Remus managed to remove the cement and rose to his feet. But instead of heading down the hallway, he turned to face the statue.
"Celeste," he said softly, trying hard not to smile. "Ready for the picnic? James and Sirius have already got the food down by the lake."
Celeste emerged from behind the statue and carefully straightened her robes, as if behind a statue was a perfectly natural place to find a schoolmate. Face burning in spite of herself, she smiled sweetly before answering.
"Of course I'm ready. Let's go, shall we?"
Remus led the way down the hall and when he was certain he wasn't going to burst out laughing he asked Celeste how she found Lady Fauna that afternoon.
"Very well," she answered seriously. "You know, Remus, it was very lucky you came along when you did. If Mr. Pringle had caught them he would have skinned them alive."
Remus nodded but refrained from mentioning that she could have handled it just as well, he also failed to mention that he had in fact been looking for her with the help of a useful little map hidden in his pocket. He had hoped to find her alone but had found the situation amusing none the less. Celeste, fearing his silence was one of disapproval, racked her brains, searching for a subject to turn his mind away from her strange behavior.
"I'm glad you're feeling better," she said suddenly. "Was it the flu you had last month? It must have been pretty bad."
"What?" he said confusedly, then said lamely, "Oh, yeah, um, it was bad, but I'm okay, now."
He had forgotten what story he had fed everyone about his brief absence last month. He had been feeling lousy, he always did before a full moon, but he always felt better again after he had made his transformation into a werewolf. He didn't like lying to Celeste, but the thought of what she would think of him if she knew the truth made his stomach clench. Hastily, he changed the subject.
"The, er, quiddich match was brilliant, don't you think? James has won the cup for Gryffindor five years in a row now, your mom is really pleased about that I bet."
Celeste stopped so abruptly; Remus nearly walked into her. "My mom!" she shrieked."What do you know about my mom?"
Remus groaned. In his haste to turn the subject away from himself he had let slip a piece of information about Celeste he had discovered two years before.
"I'm sorry, Celeste," he said as she turned to look at him in shock and disbelief."I've always noticed a resemblance between you and Professor McGonagall, and you always spend so much time in her office, I haven't told anyone, I swear."
Once the initial shock had ebbed away, Celeste found herself rather pleased to see how observant Remus had been of herself. "How long have you known this?" she asked, considerably calmer than before.
"For about two years now," he answered.
Celeste resumed walking and began to descend the grand staircase, which led to the main entrance. She was still somewhat surprised to hear that Remus Lupin had discovered a secret that her best friend Lily Evans had only known for four years and that her steady boyfriend of almost a year was completely clueless of.
Worried he might have truly upset her, Remus apologized again.
Celeste smiled. "It's all right Remus, really. I guess its not important to keep it a secret, but my parents divorced the year before I started Hogwart's, mom hadn't changed her surname when they were married and I've always used my dad's last name, Potak. We just decided there was no reason to bring up our relationship, students might think I was getting special treatment or something. I haven't told Sirius, I doubt he'll ever figure it out.To be honest I'm not entirely surprised that you were the one to figure it out, you're more observant than most people, especially Sirius."
She sighed as she said the last bit, something that Remus noticed. He looked at her sharply; Celeste blushed and quickened her pace down the stairs.
"I hope they brought lots of food," she said."I'm famished."
