december 1, 1964

Little Maggie McGonagall clambered through the fresh patch of snow in Hogsmeade, twisting and twirling just as carefree as any other little witch her age. She stopped every once and awhile and imagined that a great big dragon was coming her way. Ducking and diving, she pretended to swish her wand and defeat the beast.

A few passersby smiled fondly at the witch and nodded respectfully to her father.

"That is some mighty fine dragon dueling, my sweet," Elphinstone chuckled earnestly as he walked along with his daughter. "Which spell did you use on the foe?"

Maggie raised her little fist in the air, with a pizzaz of boastfulness, seemingly congratulating herself.

"'Spelliarmus!" Maggie shouted boldly, tripping over some snow and popping back up again excitedly.

Elphinstone resisted the urge to correct his daughter's magic work and instead clapped his hands dutifully.

"Quite a spell to use, lass."

Elphinstone was now kneeling so that he was face to face with his daughter.

"Mummy taught me it!" Maggie grinned broadly, showing her missing front teeth.

"She did now?" Elphinstone smiled adoringly at his daughter.

Maggie nodded feverishly with bulging eyes. "She says when I go to Hogwarts that I can play Qu'itch! I'll be a Chaser just like mummy. For Gryff'dor!"

Elphinstone clawed at his heart dramatically.

"Not Slytherin like daddy?" Elphinstone feigned hurt.

Maggie's face turned to one of worry.

"Not Sl'erin, daddy," Maggie shook her head seriously. "I want to be a lion!"

Maggie turned her attention away from her father and began galloping, or rather tripping, over the snow and giving her best impression of a mighty lion. A few weak, squeaky roars came from the little witch.

Minerva came out of Gladrags Wizardwear, approached her husband and put her arm through his, both of them now watching their little creation keep herself company. She pulled out a tiny robe with dancing star patterns across it.

"She loathes anything pink or purple," Minerva huffed. "She better not fret when I make her wear this out now. This is going to look so darling on her, don't you think?"

"Almost makes me want to have another," Elphinstone gave Minerva a wicked smile.

Minerva scoffed but returned the grin.

"First you marry a younger woman and now you expect her to give you countless children," Minerva tucked her smile with a mock sense of bemusement.

Maggie was now gathering snowballs and tucking them into her tiny little robes, shrieking with laughter each time they began to melt from her warm little hands.

"Says she wants to be a Gryffindor like her mummy." Elphinstone eyed his wife in anticipation.

The lines around his eyes were starting to appear more noticeably. The last bits of his once regally black hair were succumbing to grey now. Minerva, barely entering her thirties, still looked just as stunningly beautiful and sharp as ever. Her dark hair sat in a rare messy bun, clearly enjoying the break that weekends gave her. She was glad that Elphinstone was retired now so that he could watch over Maggie while she juggled her classes at Hogwarts.

They both watched their only child.

"She could do with a sibling though," Minerva relented with an unwilling sigh. "Before she begins to show further signs of only-child syndrome."

Elphinstone and Minerva both chuckled at this, uneasily eyeing Maggie who was now blowing kisses on random shop windows.

"You may have a point there." Elphinstone agreed.

"And don't you go on saying that Gryffindors are attention-seeking," Minerva raised an eyebrow to her husband.

"I never said a thing!" Elphinstone chortled, holding a hand up in resignation.

Minerva smiled in satisfaction.

"Maybe we can discuss it more seriously when I get back from the Herbology and Defense symposium," Elphinstone added seriously.

Minerva took a deep breath and nodded as Elphinstone picked up Maggie, who was beginning to throw snowballs at the window of the Hog's Head.

"What are you presenting on again?" Minerva asked.

"Venomous Tentacula," Elphinstone replied, putting Maggie over his shoulders. The little witch cheered in amusement.

"Odd plant that is," Minerva noted in bewilderment. "Never cared for it myself."

The two said nothing more on the subject of Tentacula for the remainder of their outing.