The Parent Trap.
A/n: We both want to say a huge thank you to all of those who took the time to read and review the last chapter. We are over the moon that you are enjoying reading this story as much as we are writing it.
Chapter Four: Accidentally Following Her Footsteps by Ang.
Less than an hour later, Minerva and Abigail were taking their first steps into Diagon Alley. This wasn't the first time Abigail had visited the magical village but today was the start of another chapter in her life and one that she embraced excitedly. It was the beginning of what she had dreamed of and her mother had feared. In a few short weeks, her pride and joy would most likely discover her father and her twin sister.
But, today was not the day for focusing on such events for Abigail deserved to have a splendid day of shopping. As they walked up the steps of Gringotts Bank, Minerva reached into her pocket and produced the small golden key. She hadn't told Abigail before, but she had quite a large sum of gold in her own vault. In fact, it matched her sister's amount down to the knut. Albus and Minerva had made sure to provide each of their daughter's with enough money to support them comfortably in the event that something should happen to them.
As they approached the counter, Abigail gripped her mother's hand and looked in awe at the goblins working at the bank. They were fascinating to her and yet she knew better than to upset them, for they could be fierce creatures.
"We are here to withdraw money from Abigail McGonagall's vault," Minerva said without the slightest hesitation in her voice.
The head goblin peered over the counter at the young girl and looked back up to Minerva, as if asking a question he dare not speak aloud. "Abigail McGonagall? That is the name you said…is it not?"
"Yes, that is her name and I am her mother, Minerva. Here is her key to the vault. The number is 778," she answered briskly, hoping to end the discussion before it became too involved.
After giving the key an inspection and calling over another goblin, Minerva and Abigail made their way towards the room that housed the carts and tracks, which would carry them deep into the bank to her vault.
"Abigail, I will not be able to ride in the cart in my human form. I don't like the motion of the cart so I'll be transforming into my animagus form but rest assured, I'll be right here with you." Minerva hugged her daughter and helped her into the cart before transforming into her tabby cat form and leaping in the rickety metal box with her daughter.
As they twisted and turned down the rough tracks, Minerva watched her daughter intently. Abigail was exactly like her father. He loved to take wild rides in the Gringotts bank carts and the faster they moved the more he seemed to enjoy his trip. Minerva often thought that he would make withdraws just so he could experience the rush from the ride.
Abigail stepped out of the cart and watched as her mother transformed and then led her to the door of the vault. "We will only take what you'll need for supplies and maybe a few extra galleons for you to spend on whatever you wish," Minerva announced quietly to her daughter. Just then the goblin unlocked the door and Abigail's mouth dropped open at the sight of her newly found fortune.
After retrieving enough money for their intended purposes, they entered the bright sunshine once more but Abigail was a bit troubled. Minerva could see her daughter's analytical mind working, trying to work out why the head goblin had looked at her oddly, then giving her mother a sceptical going over, added to the fact that she had just learned of a small fortune in her name back at Gringotts.
"Your father and I wanted to make sure you would be well cared for should something happen to us, Abigail. That's why you have all that money in the vault. But it is to be used wisely, not squandered."
"But why did he look at us funny when we walked up to the counter? We had our key and you even knew which vault number it was, Mum!" Abigail wanted to ask her mother all the questions floating through her mind but felt that this was neither the time nor the place for such a discussion.
"I suppose he was a bit shocked to see you, since we haven't visited your vault since you were little," she smiled. "Besides, it's not every day that a bright young woman with such adorable features walks into the bank to pay them a visit," Minerva added with a teasing nudge.
Abigail giggled and nudged her mother back, giving her a broad smile and a wink. Minerva couldn't help but wonder what her other daughter was doing today and if Albus would bring her into Diagon Alley for her supplies. That thought was quickly banished as she thought back to his busy schedule from years ago. With any luck, Evelyn would probably have to shop with another professor or maybe even her Uncle Aberforth. Either way, she hoped that she and Abigail would be long gone before they arrived in town, if for no other reason than to spare her own feelings.
As they walked down the cobblestone street, Abigail looked at all the shop windows, as if seeing them truly for the first time. Her mother was leading her towards Flourish and Blotts to get her schoolbooks but Abigail wanted to get her wand first. "I think it's the most important thing I'll ever own so I'd like to get that first, please."
As they entered the old store, Minerva's mind flooded with memories of getting her first wand. As Mr. Ollivander rounded the corner from behind the large wall containing the shelved boxes, he smiled. "I knew I'd be seeing you two in here, especially after my earlier visitor," he said giving Minerva a broad smile.
Minerva felt all the blood drain from her face and a cold wave sweep over her as she struggled not to show any emotion. But it was too late. Mr. Ollivander had already noticed her change in mood and quickly tried to remedy his mistake by offering even more details.
"Willow and phoenix was chosen earlier, Minerva," he offered as he pulled out his tape measure and walked towards Abigail. "So, Miss Abigail, which would be your wand arm, dear?" Offering him her left arm, he stole a glance at Minerva and smiled as he turned his attentions back to Abigail.
"Two peas in a pod, Miss McGonagall and very bright indeed. I see a lot of mischief hidden behind those bright blue eyes, which remind me of your father. But you also have a seriousness about you and a passion for learning, don't you?"
Abigail looked up at her mother and gave her a puzzled look as Ollivander measured her arm and then began handing her wand after wand to try. Nearly fifteen minutes later, the young girl was getting frustrated and extremely tired of swishing the different wands, only to find that nothing was happening.
"I think it might be really peculiar but perhaps it just might work and stranger things have happened," he muttered as he walked away from Minerva and Abigail to search the shelves towards the back of the shop. A few minutes later he came back with a dusty box with a deep blue lid on it. After carefully wiping way the signs of age, he pulled a beautiful wand from the box and handed it to the young girl with eager eyes.
Suddenly the candles in the room began to flicker and a whisper of a breeze flew around Abigail the moment she touched the base of the wand.
"Fascinating…how incredibly fascinating!"
"What's so fascinating?" Abigail asked, relieved to finally have her wand in her hand.
"Your wand! It's made of ebony and heartstring of a dragon. It's the perfect blending of your parents, my child. Your father had a dragon heartstring in his wand and of course your mother's wand is made of ebony."
"Is that so unusual?" she asked curiously. She had always wanted to hear more about her father and Mr. Ollivander seemed to be a wealth of information. She had tried to ask her mother about him on numerous occasions but it she found her mother getting flustered and upset. So, Abigail had wondered secretly about her father and why things had gone so wrong between her parents.
"An ebony wand is considered the most powerful and it grants the user limitless powers. You, dear Abigail, are going to develop unprecedented qualities of protection through your wand. It is highly unusual for a child to have a perfect blending of their parents displayed in the wand but considering who your parents are, I should not be surprised."
"So you know my father well?" she ventured to ask.
"Yes I do and he…" Ollivander caught Minerva's eyes and knew that he should not offer any more information. "He is a wonderful man and I'm sure he'd be very proud of you." Before she could ask another question, a young boy came into the shop with his father and Minerva quickly ushered her out into the busy street after paying for the wand rather hastily.
Sensing the uneasiness in her mother's mood, Abigail suggested that they go to Flourish and Blotts to get her cherished books next. She remembered how much her mother loved to read and they could each get lost in a bookshop for hours, just browsing the numerous titles and categories. Giving her daughter her booklist, Minerva decided to give her an opportunity to search the bookshop without supervision as she settled down in a chair at the back of the store and waited patiently with a new book on Transfiguration.
Abigail toured the store and easily found all of her necessary textbooks and then turned her attention to her personal reading choices. Her mother had given her extra money to purchase something special today and there was one book she had wanted for ages now but her mother would always make up some excuse as to why she couldn't have it.
This book was one that she had seen only once and when her mother saw her with it, she had quickly ended their shopping outing that day, saying that she wasn't feel well and needed to return home immediately. Abigail had practically begged her mother for the book several times but to no avail. With a little help from the owner of the bookstore, they found the book and when she held it in her hands and stared at the wizard on the front, she knew her mother would understand once they got home.
Slipping the book in between the others, Abigail felt a bit sneaky but she had desperately wanted to read the book on Albus Dumbledore and his research on dragon's blood. In truth, she wanted to know all about this famous wizard because for some reason she had always felt drawn to him. Sometimes, she even dreamed that he was her father but she had never told that to her mother for it was just a childish dream. And given the way her mother reacted each time she broached the subject of her father, she didn't think it would be a good idea to mention her daydreams.
With the books paid for and shrunken for easy carrying inside her robes, even the one on Albus Dumbledore, Abigail couldn't wait to get home to start reading her new book but they still had lots of shopping left to do. Minerva suggested a break from their shopping to enjoy a nice sandwich and maybe an ice cream at Floeran Fortescue's Ice Cream Shop. Watching her daughter order a sundae with all sorts of added sweets made Minerva's teeth cringe but brought a smile to her face. She thought back to another time, years ago, when she was pregnant and craved sweets almost as much as Albus. It gave him so much happiness to accompany her on her trips to Honeydukes or Fortescue's for a treat.
"How about I take the remainder of your list and get the things you need for Potions class and then I'll stop by the Magical Menagerie to see if they have any animals which I think you might like? In the meantime, you can go to Madame Malkin's and get measured for your school robes. I'll meet you there and we can head home or stop off somewhere in London for dinner."
Abigail eagerly agreed to that bargain and with a hug and a kiss she darted off towards the robemakers' shop, leaving Minerva seated in the bright sunshine with a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits. Scanning the growing crowd of shoppers, Minerva looked nervously for Albus or even Aberforth but was relieved when she found neither of them among the sea of faces. Slightly relieved, she gathered up her things and headed down the street to the Apothecary to finish the shopping for her lovely daughter, before returning to their home for the remainder of the summer.
To Be Continued…
A/N: The information about ebony wands came from Alivan's. Their website is It's a fantastic site to browse or to order a wand. Trust me, their wands are phenomenal and worth every penny!