Disclaimer - You all know the drill. HP and all related characters belong to the mighty JK bows. Songs, companies and other people etc. belong to whoever they belong to.
Warnings - Swearing
Author's note - Thank you to all my reviewers! And thanks for all your votes etc. The cat name has been decided, and this chapter is therefore dedicated to neosildrake, who gave me the idea of the name Azrael - I had no idea what it meant either, until I looked it up, lol - so thanks very much :D.
1st September, 1932
For the first time, the two McGonagalls together walked onto the magical Platform, through the once-again bustling crowd and onto the train, Damien giving Minerva a helping hand on before she decided to go and get a compartment to herself, to see if she could meet some other first-years.
Damien reluctantly agreed, but did so with a small smile.
"Just remember what I taught you, Min."
"Heal palm to jaw?" She asked innocently, with a small smile.
"Well, I was thinking more to be yourself - but that to." He added with a warm smile, placing a comforting and soothing hand on her shoulder before she took a deep breath and ventured deep into the train, trunk rolling along behind her, giving him a small smile before carrying on.
"She's definitely going to be a Gryffindor." Damien muttered, and with that, spun around and went to find his friend.
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Reunited, Damien, Patrick, Elizabeth and Anne took their usual seats at the end of the table, having travelled for the first time in the horseless carriages, falling silent with the rest of the hall as the first-years were led in once again by Professor Dumbledore, all but one looking nervously around for the troll/giant/dragon which they were supposed to fight/wrestle to be Sorted into their Houses, which was why, whenever the Hat was set out, they all sighed in relief.
That 'one' was Minerva, who beamed at him causing him to wink in reply, and who was standing with a young girl with light blonde hair and hawk-like eyes, and another with dark brown hair and warm brown eyes.
Damien kept his eye on them all, waiting for any of them to go up.
The first was, "Hooch, Xiomara."
The young girl with blonde hair and hawk-like eyes went up eagerly and jammed on the hat.
There was a few seconds of tense silence before, in a loud, clear voice, the Hat announced "GRYFFINDOR!"
There was a loud cheer from said table, and blushing heavily, Xiomara walked over, taking a seat at the end of the table.
Another long time of waiting came, before "McGonagall, Minerva" was called.
Damien crossed his fingers as the hat was placed on her head, and he sat anxiously, his muscles tightened.
It took a minute before it too shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
Beaming, he clapped the loudest at the table, and watched as she took her seat at the bottom of the table, beside Xiomara.
The final girl of the group, "Sinistra, Sarah", later became a Gryffindor.
Another Golden Trio was born.
14th September, 1932
With their small supporters squad of one Quidditch enthusiast and four not-so-enthusiastic followers of the sport, but all with a hope their team would win and that they would get in, Damien and Patrick stood in loose clothes, two school brooms in hands, while Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, Elijah Johnston, lead chaser of the team, paced in front of them all.
"This year, we have two beater's positions to fill and a hope to win the Quidditch Cup for the first time in a few decades…even reaching the final would be a great achievement for us, and our first step towards the House Cup." Elijah started, already starting to get worked up.
All Damien could think, for some reason, was 'This guy is a lot like Wood'.
He had no idea who 'Wood' was, but shrugged it off as his imagination before snapping out of his daze, as he started to pick pairs to go and play for a while.
Patrick and Damien waited a good half hour, being the last up.
An hour later, it was announced that they had trounced their opponents and had clinched the Beater's positions with flare.
That night, they received their robes and a party was held in their honour.
Damien couldn't stop smiling.
24th October, 1932
After being sent new broomsticks by their Head of House (to their shock and pleasure, whenever they found the new Nimbus 700, the best broom on the market), the dynamic duo started to practice heavily for Quidditch, including lifting some (light) weights, building up gradually, and going out on runs, to improve general fitness and strength.
Their effort all led up to the day of the first Quidditch game of the year - Gryffindor vs. Slytherin.
Gryffindor hadn't beaten Slytherin for a good few years, and three-thirds of the school were rooting for the Champion's demise, dressed in red rosettes and face-paints, many holding banners.
Xiomara had painted a banner, originally with several inappropriate slogans about the Slytherins, however, she had changed it (after Minerva had started lecturing her about it) and now had a large sign saying 'Lions rule, Snakes drool!', flashing red and gold (with help from Minerva and her wide knowledge of spells).
Elizabeth had also gotten in the spirit, her own sign saying 'Lions tear apart the Snakes!', with a picture of a lion eating a snake on it, while Minerva herself had a sign saying 'Go Gryffindor Go!', done in the Muggle way, in red paint.
Anne and Sarah and opted for the face-painting and scarves option.
The beating duo were currently pacing in the changing rooms, clearly nervous, which was a change from their usually calm, playful and Patrick's once clearly shown emotions, which had changed to make him unfazed when insulted or mocked, had now returned in the current situation.
However, whenever the time came, and they flew out to the cheering of the crowd and the heartening sight of the signs held by their cheering friends, nervousness was all but forgotten, and commentator, Kevin Jordan, a young Gryffindor, took the advantage to begin commentating over the roaring crowd.
"FIRSTLY, FOR GRYFFINDOR, THE TEAM IS PETERS…JOHNSTON…LONGBOTTOM…PREWETT…MCGONAGALL…FLETCHER…AND WEASLEY!"
The booing Slytherin quarter of the stadium was drowned out by the roars, cheers and shouts of the other three-quarters of Gryffindor supporters.
"AND, FOR SLYTHERIN, THERE'S LESTRANGE…BLACK…MACNAIR…PARKINSON…CRABBE…GOYLE…AND NOTT!"
Jordan sounded as if he would rather be doing anything else than having to sound excited about announcing the Slytherin's arrival, however, rather professionally pulled it off (under the watchful gaze of Professor Dumbledore it must be stated).
Mr Wilkinson called over Johnston and Nott, the Slytherin Captain, over, and after ordering them to shake hands (which they done so quickly it was debated whether they actually touched the other's hand), let loose the Snitch, the Bludgers and threw up the Quaffle, beginning the game.
"AND THE GAME BEGINS! JOHNSTON IS UP AND MANAGES TO SNATCH THE QUAFFLE BEFORE BLACK! GREAT PLAY, GRYFFINDOR!"
"The game, Mr Jordan." Dumbledore chided lightly.
"Sorry, Professor." Johnston replied automatically, not sounding very sorry at all. "JOHNSTON HAS PASSED TO LONGBOTTOM, WHO HAS SHOT FORWARD AWAY FROM THE FORMATION, ENTERING THE SHOOTING AREA…HE DRAWS HIS ARM BACK…SHOOTS…HE SCORES! 10-0 TO GRYFFINDOR!"
Jordan was drowned out by the shouts from the stands, and Damien grinned before shooting off towards a bludgers about to hit Longbottom in retaliation.
He just managed to get to it and shot it at Crabbe, who had originally hit it, causing it to hit the boy in his hitting arm.
"SLYTHERIN BEATER CRABBE TRIES TO HIT SCORING LONGBOTTOM, AND HIT BY THE RETALIATING BLUDGER, HIT BY DAMIEN MCGONAGALL, SECOND-YEAR AND NEW BEATER THIS YEAR. THIS SURELY MUST BE A PENALTY…AND YES! A PENALTY FOR GRYFFINDOR FOR AN ATTACK ON THEIR CHASER…AND A PENALTY FOR SLYTHERIN FOR THE OFFENDING BLUDGER! WHAT AN ABOMINATION!"
"Mr Jordan…"
"Sorry, Professor."
Elijah had since taken his penalty, scoring neatly, while Black had missed by at least a foot, and was currently being shouted at by his friends.
"AND GRYFFINDOR IS IN THE SADDLE LEADING 20-0 IN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES. TALK ABOUT AN EXCITING GAME, EVERYONE. I HAVE THE FEELING THIS IS GOING TO GET NASTY!"
Jordan was definitely right about that.
The Slytherins, who were shocked to be losing already to the Gryffindors, began to play dirty, and Damien and Patrick had their work cut out to start hitting the bludgers back again, and harder than before.
At the half hour stage, it was 60-10 to Gryffindor, with Gryffindor Goalkeeper Peters having made some superb saves, Damien and Patrick shouting to each other, working well together as Beaters, causing a substitution due to injury, and the Chasers were still going strong, excelling themselves, all fired up and ready for Battle whenever everyone froze in place, watching Weasley and Nott diving towards the Snitch, arms outstretched.
Damien was about to be hit by a Bludger and instantly reacted, hitting it towards the speeding players.
Nott has pulled ahead with a smirk on his face, and was about to reach whenever he was knocked off-course by the lone Bludger, and Weasley, still going strong, reached and pulled the Snitch into his hand, holding it high above his head in victory.
There was shock for a second before the Gryffindors and others started shouting themselves hoarse, and Jordan was jumping up and down, shouting happily into the microphone.
"AND GRYFFINDOR WINS THANKS TO A BLUDGER FROM BEATER MCGONAGALL, GAINING GRYFFINDOR'S FIRST VICTORY IN SEVEN YEARS, THEIR FIRST OVER SLYTHERIN IN A DECADE, AND PUTTING THEM ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE QUIDDITCH CUP! GRYFFINDOR WINS! GRYFFINDOR WINS!"
The Gryffindor team had landed and started hugging each other and jumping up and down as if they had just won he World Cup, and they were soon engulfed by the shouting fans, each being pulled onto the shoulders of older students, and carried were carried towards the Gryffindor Common Room, where a large, thriving party lasted long into the night and early into the morning, whenever Professor Dumbledore came to send them all to bed, and, all wrecked, fell instantly asleep, still feeling the buzz on the day in their skin.
18th June, 1933
The Quidditch Final that year was between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, Gryffindor coming in third with two wins and one defeat, and had missed playing in the final by points, however, this was an amazing jump, and a large party had been held to celebrate this, which still involved food from the kitchens and a large supply of butterbeer (and fire whiskey for the older students) readily available.
Damien was reallybeginning to like Gryffindor parties.
However,itwas on this day, on the morning afterthe party,that the Daily Prophet, the British Wizarding Paper, reported disturbing news.
A new Dark Lord was rising, and rising swiftly.
The Dark Lord Grindlewald, as he called himself, and his Dark Army, were attacking Muggle villages throughout Britain, with death tolls slowly moving into the thousands.
And the Aurors in the Ministry were slowly falling in number, while the number of the army was rising.
It wasn't good at all.
Several owls with black letters entered that morning, causing the Hall to fall into silence.
"What are those things?" Anne whispered in fear.
"Those are the bringers of death…news that a relative has died…there hasn't been one of those seen here in years." Patrick said quietly, watching the bird carefully as it circled over the students.
Dippet and Dumbledore, as had all the teachers, stood up solemnly, and the birds at last started to approach swooped down, two over Hufflepuff table, one over Ravenclaw and three over Gryffindor.
Damien's heart stopped as it spied him and started flying towards him, and his fears were confirmed whenever a black letter was dropped on the table before him.
Thankful that Minerva had not received it, the most comfort he received at the moment, he picked it up with shaking hands and opened it.
'Mr McGonagall,
It is our sad duty to inform you of the passing of your Uncle, Derrick R. McGonagall, while on duty as an Auror for the Ministry of Magic during the Battle of Cheshire.
He was a great man, and it is with deep condolences that we inform you of his death.
He asked that you receive his texts and equipment, and they shall be sent ASAP via owl.
With deep condolences for this tragic loss,
W. R. Bones,
Minister of Magic'
He felt a hand on his shoulder and he bowed his head to hide his tears.
He hadn't seen his Uncle for many years, since he was four or five, but even then he still remembered the love the man had shown him, and how he had loved him. However, despite his pain, one thought repeated itself.
'Uncle Derrick was a Wizard.'
Minerva had since read the letter and was in shock, silently crying, and the two siblings were led away from the Hall by Professor Dumbledore.
Two days later, they attended a private ceremony for their Uncle they had never known, Demetrius himself near breakdown at the loss of his brother, who he had believed a Policeman who had attended a small boarding school named St. Augustus'…a lie his parents had fed him in shame of what his brother actually was, and had forbidden him from knowing the truth… and their mother pale and sickly looking as she stood beside his side, clutching his pale, shaky hand in his own.
It was with a vigour that he attacked the books given to him by his late Uncle, as well as sort through the equipment left to him, and over the Summer, pushed himself further - something in his mind told him that everything he learnt would one day come in use.
Another chapter, another year.
You didn't think I'd let them win the cup yet, did you:P
Also, the 'sixteenth year' will on July 31st of the year before his sixth year, because of his birthday as Harry Potter - this means only three or so chapters left until he goes back.
Yes, there is something wrong with Athena, but more shall be explained soon.
And the lost Uncle was a good twist, don't you think? I also wanted him to get Auror texts etc. and to be introduced to the idea of the black letters.
Let me know what you think :D