Within a few hours, Minerva received confirmation that Hermione was indeed a muggleborn witch and listed on Hogwarts registry. The witch carefully explained about magic to the Grangers while Dougal sat on the floor entertaining the children. The couple accepted their daughter's gift as opposed to thinking something was wrong with her.

Minerva gladly demonstrated what magic could do and even showed off her animagus form. "Will Hermione be able to do all of that?" John had asked.

Minerva nodded her head. "She might not be an animagus but she will be capable of the other stuff by the time she graduates Hogwarts. She and Harry will be entering at the same time. He probably felt her magic that day in your office."

"Doug" John said. The older man met his friend's eye and saw the man's struggle. "You encourage Harry's magic?"

Dougal nodded his head. "Harry's mother Lily was like Hermione," he explained. "Born with magic from parents without it. I watched her father and sister push her away from fear of the unknown. Her father refused to pay for her magical schooling so I stepped in and paid for it. Lily was so much calmer once she started Hogwarts. Hermione needs to learn how to use her magic and settle into her abilities."

John closed his eyes and nodded his head. Dougal McGregor had never led him wrong in life and he planned to follow the man's lead. "Magical school it is," he said. "What can we do to help ease her transition into the magical world?"

Minerva smiled brightly at that. "Leave that to me," she answered. "We will find a way to ensure Harry and Hermione can utilize both worlds."

Within days, Sirius Black had purchased a home next-door to the Grangers for Remus Lupin. The werewolf had argued with him before Minerva had been the voice of reason. "Harry will be attending muggle primary school and I won't be available to keep an eye out for him," she said matter-of-factly. "Sirius isn't as good as blending in the muggle world like you are. I need you to keep an eye out for Harry. Tom Riddle still has sympathizers out there."

Remus reluctantly sighed and nodded his head. "I shall do my best but I will be getting a job to pay the bills," he said. "I won't be a charity case."

"You already have a job," Sirius said teasingly. "You are going to tutor Harry and Hermione in subjects that will benefit them at Hogwarts."

"Damn it Padfoot," Remus snarled angrily. "I won't take your money."

"You're not," Minerva said with a smirk. "House Potter is paying for the tutoring sessions. I fully expect you to work on your own apprecenticeship while they are occupied elsewhere. I intend for them both to have a basic mastery of their choice by the time they graduate Hogwarts."

"Really," Remus asked suprised. It was unheard of to work towards a mastery so young.

Minerva nodded her head. "I need to ensure Harry's place in society isn't based solely on the Boy Who Lived tripe the papers have bestowed on him. You will be in charge of his education, Sirius will be ensuring he knows his role as an heir and I shall be researching laws that we are going to get passed in the Wizengamot."

"You are?" Sirius asked suprised.

"James and Lily trusted me with Potter House and I will not take that lightly," she answered firmly. "The trials will be starting soon and I intend to ensure justice is served for Harry's sake. Once several darker leaning families have lost their voting rights, we should have enough votes to push legislation through easily."

"You are brilliant," Sirius breathed in awe as Remus nodded his head. Minerva chuckled at their expressions and went about her business.

The trials of the captured Death Eaters started earlier than anticipated but Minerva was there. She decided to show up right on time as she wanted to avoid small talk. She was dressed in formal black robes with the Potter crest given a place of honor. She decided to take Harry with her and had him dressed in formal robes with a large Potter crest on it.

Minerva McGonagall McGregor walked in the chambers with Harry on her hip. She held her head high as murmurs filled the hall. She walked to the Potter House seat and regally sat down. Harry sat happily on her lap and stared about the room waving at those he knew.

The first trial was of young Severus Snape. She listened to all of the arguments and witnessed Albus ask for leniency for him. She couldn't allow those that needed punishment go without. Their very society depended on regaining what had been lost to them. She stood and asked to speak.

Silence greeted her but her request was eventually granted. "Mr. Snape," she said then asked. "Can someone be given the Dark Mark against their will?"

Gasps of suprise sounded throughout the room but her former student eyed her willingly. "They cannot," he answered truthfully. "The Dark Mark will not take if the person doesn't want it."

Minerva had thought that was the case but she wanted to make sure everyone else was aware of it at the same time. She had a feeling some of the ones facing trials would try that defense. "Do you regret your decision now?" she asked him.

Severus Snape looked haunted but nodded his head. "My actions led to the death of my dearest friend," he whispered. "I will live with that forever and I accept that as my lot in life."

"House Potter wants to see justice in these trials," she said loudly. "We owe justice to James and Lily for their sacrifice. We owe justice to the children just starting out in life. We owe justice to those who were lost briefly but tried to amend their wrongs. I would like to argue against Mr. Snape's placement at Hogwarts. He is still healing from his own issues and isn't able to function in a role model position at this time. I would like to offer another suggestion. It is obvious Mr. Snape regrets his decision and worked towards saving his friend. Mr. Snape is a potions master and a good one at that. I propose he uses his talents at St. Mungo's researching ways to help those he can for the next decade. Almost like community service if you will; however, he should be credited with any achievements he makes."

Albus looked at his friend in suprise. He had never dreamed she would not publicly support him. He pushed away his aggravation and thought about what she said. She had been correct. Severus wasn't in a place where he could mentor others. He needed to rid himself of his own demons before he could make a difference for someone else. "I believe House Potter has a grand idea," he finally managed to say. "Severus Snape would do more good for magical Britain overall if he was researching at St. Mungo's."

The trials continued on rather quickly much to Minerva's delight. She wanted to move past the hurt and divide the trials were causing and heal their society. She mostly followed Albus' suggestions; however, there were a few she had to argue over. The LeStranges being one of them. She had argued they were the worst sort and wasn't the type to repent. She argued against Azkaban and asked for the Veil.

"Surely that isn't the answer?" Albus had said disturbed by the suggestion.

Minerva eyed her friend and mentor briefly before retorting, "And what of young Neville? Should he be stripped of the security knowing they won't ever come back to finish the job? Should House Longbottom not have justice for the senseless torture of two of their own? Their heir was incapacitated by them."

"What of the LeStrange House?" Albus argued.

Minerva gave a hard look to Albus before revealing, "There is an heir to House LeStrange. Rodolphus LeStrange raped a witch and she fell pregnant. She moved from Britain to escape Bellatrix's wrath."

Gasps filled the chamber as she continued. "With a minor adjustment to the current laws regarding heirs, House LeStrange can continue. And it can do so without a madman and his sadistic wife at the helm."

The chamber errupted in mutterings and shock at Minerva's words. Albus was at a loss on what to do. He glanced around and realized he wasn't the only one. Lord Greengrass stood regally and asked to speak. "House Greengrass supports House Potter's suggestion of punishment for the LeStrange family. They have murdered many purebloods in their quest to rule Magical Britain. Now is not the time to allow them to escape a deserved punishment. I also would like to support a change to House heirships. I would support allowing illegitimate heirs to gain the House Lordship when no other direct heir or willed heir is listed."

"House Black will support both as well," Sirius Black said happily while glaring at Bellatrix LeStrange.