Isobel McGonagall stared out her window as she sensed a magical presence. She might have stowed her wand away out of respect for her muggle husband but she was very much aware of magic around her. She instantly knew the magical signature was different than those signatures of children although she recognized something familiar in the magic. A female, a witch presumably, sat on the old stone fence wall across the old cobblestone road and stared her way. It was obvious the girl had hid herself by magic from muggle view. Isobel recognized the desperation on the young girl's face and knew her conscience would not allow her to ignore the girl. Isobel poured a glass of lemonade, grabbed a tin of biscuits and slowly made her way to the young witch.
The witch was dressed in tight muggle jeans and a man's flannel button up shirt. They were torn in places and upon closer inspection was dirty and caked with dry blood. The riotous brown curls were pulled back in a ponytail but Isobel doubted it had been washed or even brushed lately. Cuts and bruises were evident and the sunken cheeks told of the girl's lack of food.
Isobel wordlessly offered the glass of lemonade and biscuits to the witch. The young witch gratefully accepted them and ate quickly. "Thank you," she managed. "I can't remember the last time I had a ginger newt."
Isobel met the saddened chocolate eyes with her own blue ones. "You're welcome lass. Care to tell me why you sought me out? You must be desperate to travel through time."
The witch smiled widely. "I should of realized how intelligent you would be considering how bright Minerva is. I did travel back in time."
"I figured as much," Isobel said as she settled next to the witch. "What happened to make you take such drastic measures?"
"The end of Magical Britain," Hermione answered emotionally. "In a few years time, Voldemort will be stopped but he has made Horcuxes and will return."
"Horcuxes," Isobel repeated horrified.
"Afraid so," the young witch replied. "My bestfriend is prophesied to stop Voldemort. Albus Dumbledore holds too much information to himself and it ends badly. The only person we had to help us is Minerva but she is too broken to assist us the way she needs to."
"My Minerva?" she asked concerned. "Broken how?"
"This Friday there will be an attack against your family," the girl revealed. "Your refusal to use your wand, will see your entire family other than Malcolm and Minerva murdered as well as several of the community. Minerva will be captured, tortured and raped repeatedly."
Isobel gasped in horror as tears filled her eyes. "But she survives?"
"She does," the teenager answered. "She becomes pregnant with her rapist's child. She hides her pregnancy, gives birth in the muggle world, and gives her daughter up for adoption. She never recovers from it and shuts her emotions off."
"You are her daughter?" Isobel asked sadly.
The girl nods her head sadly. "She taught me throughout Hogwarts, was my Head of House, and I never knew she was my birth mother until her death. She sacrificed herself in battle to protect me, took a killing curse meant for me. Her will revealed the truth."
"She never gave you any indication," Isobel said with a frown.
"No," she whispered brokenly. "The war went badly. My friend spent every moment possible researching ways to fix this mess. It was realized Minerva was the answer to fix everything."
"How is she the answer?"
"While researching, my best friend discovered Minerva has a soulmate," the girl revealed. "She fell in love with him when she was 17 years old but ran from him because she refused to give her magic up like you did."
"Dougal McGregor," Isobel asked pained by the thought she caused her daughter to run from love. The teenager nodded her head in affirmation. "Does my lack of using magic affect my children so much?"
Brown eyes met blue ones before nodding. "Can you honestly say you don't miss using magic freely? Are you not jealous of your children for doing what you chose not to use?"
Isobel closed her eyes as tears ran down her face. To her shame, she did resent her children's use of magic. She longed to use her wand but her love for her husband was greater. "How can I fix it?" Isobel asked determined.
"Are you willing to pick up your wand and protect your family?" the girl asked. Isobel nodded her head which caused a smile from the girl. "Friday evening, Death Eaters will attack the village. Make sure you are carrying your wand and be prepared to engage them as soon as possible. Your children will arrive during the battle and will be encouraged to take action. Don't be afraid to use those darker spells!"
"What of Minerva's soulmate?" Isobel asked curiously.
"Minerva will sacrifice what she can to save him," the girl revealed. "Make sure to protect him while she is unconscious and then give him a push to initiate a bond between them. She won't walk away from him twice."
"And what of you?" Isobel asked. "Will you cease to exist?"
"No," the girl whispered. "I was always meant to be Dougal's child. Just take a look at my eyes and hair!"
"Will you tell me your name?" Isobel asked.
"Hermione Jean Granger, " she answered with a grin. "My birth certificate says Hermione Isobel McGonagall though. She thought enough of you to name her child after you. Open yourself up to your children and always encourage their use of magic. Things will right themselves!"
"I shall be ready," Isobel said determined. She would save her family if she could, no matter the price. She was suprised when the girl faded from sight.
Isobel grasped her wand from within the lock box she had kept it in for decades. Dark wood with vine markings came alive simply by her touch. Sparks flew from the tip as her magic pulsed within her. She smiled happily as she kissed the handle of her wand. "I shan't put you away again," she promised her beloved wand. "Please help me protect my family."
Isobel stood up and moved throughout her home while casting various spells. Her home sparkled as cleaning spells rushed to the forefront of her mind. She donned her coat and shoes before slipping to the end of town and deep within the forest. She needed to practice the spells that would hopefully protect her family!