Minerva McGonagall gazed out at the rapidly disappearing Scottish Highlands, her beloved childhood home, as the early morning train rushed towards London. Minerva let a singular tear roll down her cheek as she realized this past summer would most likely be that last extended period of time she spent with family, as she returned for her seventh and final year at attempted to shift her body and stretch, as the tiny train compartment was no match for her abnormally tall and lanky body. Minerva was seventeen years old and resembled a crow, in the best way possible, with midnight black hair, pale skin rarely touched by the Scottish sun, and long, sinewy limbs which aided her as a talented Chaser on Gryffindor's Quidditch team. Minerva didn't pay much attention to makeup or her appearance but her high, pointed cheekbones and wide charcoal eyes radiated a natural beauty. She was raised in the crucible of the global Wizarding War, far more concerned about the politics of the Wizarding World than in learning fifty charms associated with hair care. Above all, Minerva was an academic, aptly named for the goddess of wisdom. Minerva had been the most talented student to come out of Hogwarts in decades, consistently acing her OWLs and most recently named Head Girl. She especially showed an aptitude for Transfigurations and was already being recruited by educational institutions around the continent to continue her studies. Due to her intellect, Minerva had always felt constrained by her home and tiny farming village. As her mother married a Muggle, Minerva was unable to practice magic at home and to really use her talents - Hogwarts allowed her to thrive and she eagerly anticipated her return. That being said, Minerva loved her family so dearly and this final train ride felt especially excruciating as she watched the last remnants of her childhood slip away.
Minerva quickly composed herself. No reason to dwell on the past. The world was her oyster as she entered her final year at Hogwarts. She would be reunited with her best friends, Pomona and Rolanda, and all of Gryffindor House. The Quidditch Team was especially stacked this year, with Rolanda as Seeker, herself as a Chaser, and a few burly fifth years as Beaters. They had a genuinely good chance of winning the House Cup. Maybe this year Minerva would actually have a date to the Yule Ball, she thought. Minerva was pretty but also intimidating to the opposite sex - no one wanted to date the smartest witch of their generation. Well, no one besides maybe the Head Boy. Minerva recoiled at the thought of dating Tom Riddle. He was respectful and certainly as close to her intellectual equal as it would get but she couldn't shake his association with Slytherin. Although she held no romantic interest in Tom and knew she couldn't trust him, Minerva did consider Tom to be a close friend. She looked forward to lead the student body with him this year, especially since outside of Hogwarts' ivory tower, the Muggle and Wizarding worlds were consumed with chaos, war, and hatred. Above all, Minerva was ready to further her academic career. As Minerva was considering an academic career in Transfigurations, Headmaster Dippet owled her over the summer to inform her that the Transfigurations professor, a feeble old man by the name of Richard Billows had retired. No great loss, Minerva thought, as she was already proving to be more adept than him, but now she was greatly concerned that Billows's replacement would be even more incompetent. Minerva saw this as an opportunity, however. Dippet asked if she wouldn't mind serving as the teachers' assistant to the new young professor, showing him the ins and outs of the school and assisting him in grading. Dippet claimed the new professor was at the top of his field, a former Head Boy of Hogwarts whose skill rivaled Minerva's, but the headmaster didn't give her a name or any more information. Regardless of how skillful the mysterious new professor was, Minerva knew this opportunity would allow her to gain useful teaching skills and prove to be an exciting addition to her already stacked course load.
The train chugged into London and Minerva realized she only had the morning to purchase necessary school supplies in Diagon Alley before the Hogwarts Express left at 2 pm sharp. Her first stop was naturally Flourish and Blotts, where she purchased dozens of tomes both for classes and for her own reading pleasure. Quality Quidditch Supplies was a must as well, as she needed new gloves and a broom servicing kit for the upcoming season. Finally, Minerva stepped into Twilfitt and Tattings for the first time in her life as it was far above her typical means. However her mother Margret, deeply missing her own time as a young witch, slipped a few galleons in Minerva's pocket as she kissed her daughter goodbye. Margret cried and told her, "My precious, wee first-born daughter. Yer an adult woman now and any witch of age needs some quality dress robes. You'll look so beautiful at the Yule Ball and graduation - we are so, so proud of you. Now shoo, ye can't miss the train back to school, love!" Thinking back to this, Minerva proudly strode into Twilfitt and asked the shopkeeper for the nicest set of silk robes she could buy with a limited budget. The woman turned up her nose, but soon found a set in the most radiant emerald green. Minerva tried the robes on and they were exquisite - the perfect length for her stature and form fitting to the point that they hinted her new, womanly figure but were respectable enough to wear at any formal event. Minerva was impressed, not a vain girl but she knew she looked good. With her extra two galleons, Minerva spied a set of lingerie in the corner of the store, with lacy emerald trim that matched her robes perfectly. Minerva was a determined girl and decided this year she would involve herself in the romantic entanglements that the other Gryffindor girls gossiped about into the wee hours of the night. Purchasing the robes and lingerie set, Minerva tucked them deep into her school trunk and headed towards Platform 9 and ¾ - as head girl she had to be to the station an hour early to direct the Prefects.
It was so lovely to smell the familiar September air and start to recognize the faces of excited first-year students preparing to board the train, their families weeping at the bittersweet moment. Minerva immediately spotted Tom across the platform and enthusiastically greeted him with a hug. Minerva refrained from asking him about his summer as everyone knew Tom's story - an abused orphan forced to return to his Muggle orphanage every summer. However, Tom looked so vibrant and alive - happy to be back in the school he felt at home. "Hey Min! You're looking good as ever," Tom gave her a smirk, "Ready to rule the school? Absolute power over everyone, we will lead with fear and intimidation." Minerva couldn't tell if he was joking or not, but Tom quickly added, "In my first decree as supreme leader, I'll ban mutton pies from being served in the Great Hall."
"Oh, Tom," Minerva shook her head, ever so serious, "We truly do have a responsibility to this school, our professors and the students, as Hogwarts is such a home to many during these uncertain times. You know better than I."
She didn't mean to sound insensitive, but Tom flushed with anger before composing himself. "Of course, of course. Well, let's get to it and call the prefects up to the front of the train. One last ride back to Hogwarts!"
This train ride moved quicker than the last - Minerva was so excited to catch up with her friends at the Sorting Ceremony. She was also curious as to who the new Transfigurations professor would be. There was not a single professor under the age of 60 at the moment - Hogwarts Home for the Elderly, more like it, she thought. Surprisingly, Minerva didn't really have the reputation of being a teacher's pet. The professors often thought she was a bit snobbish, thinking she knew more than them about the course material. Minerva was right, of course, but this lack of deference was her biggest flaw. Still, she enjoyed working with her professors and felt that studying under someone near her own age would be especially beneficial. Minerva secretly wanted to be an animagus and was hoping that the new professor would be skilled enough to start training her, if he had time of course. She wondered how she could approach the subject. Well, academics could wait for the evening - she could view the castle's outline in the dark of the night - from the lake, to the Owelry, to the Forbidden Forest. Minerva was home.
The Great Hall roared with laughter, warmth, and camaraderie as the upperclassmen all reunited. Gryffindor's table was packed with boisterous personalities, in typical Gryffindor fashion, and Minerva sat at the edge of the table with her best friends, straining to hear them over all the joyful noise. Rolanda Hooch sat to Minerva's left. The best Quidditch player at Hogwarts currently, Rolanda was hoping to go pro. She had short, spiky auburn hair and a fiery personality to match. Only 5'4 tall, her strength and energy were that of a six foot man. Minerva was the brains, Rolanda was the brawn, and Pomona was the beauty. Sitting on Minerva's opposite side, Pomona was currently surveying the Great Hall for a new transfer student to date since she'd gone through all the eligible boys in their year and below over her time at Hogwarts. Rivaling her love of men and fashion was her love for plants - Poppy was a talented student in Herbology who wanted nothing more than to live in a cottage with a garden someday. The three girls gossiped about everything from Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret to Professor Slughorn's rumored divorce.
Pomona suddenly shrieked, "WAIT, WHO is that MAN at the High Table? Noooo way is he a professor. We don't have on staff anyone below retirement age!"
Rolanda queried, "Wait, where the hell is Old Man Billows? Did he finally kick the bucket? Is this his substitute?" Minerva made eye contact with the man in question - he was tall, far taller than her, with a build that suggested at one point he was athletic but also had a deep love of sweets. He had auburn hair and a neatly trimmed beard - altogether more suited for a job as a lumberjack over a Transfigurations professor. Minerva realized she'd been staring for far too long and blushed as he gave her a quizzical look. Dippet whispered something in his ear and pointed to her - Minerva felt strangely pleased that the man would know who she was.
Minerva told the girls, "I'm absolutely sure that's our new Transfigurations Professor, I'm actually going to be his assistant!"
"Lucky you!" shouted Pomona. "I knew I should've paid more attention in class!"
With this revelation and the Sorting Hat excitement, Minerva was exhausted and didn't even bother stopping in the common room after the ceremony was over. She trudged up the staircase to the girls' dormitory, changed into her nightgown, and charmed all of her belongings to fit back into place, exactly where they were before the Summer recess. Minerva laid down and sighed, the first moment she had to herself since the train ride through Scotland. She fell asleep thinking about the year to come, with the feeling that somehow, the nameless man she met at dinner would be an increasingly large part of her life.