Odder than usual things are happening again at Hogwarts in the year after Harry defeated Voldemort. A first-year has started a history club and argues with Binns. Minerva receives a warning from the centaurs about a dark wizard coming to seek revenge, putting the people she cares about, including the golden trio, at risk.

Revenge Seeks Minerva McGonagall

November 15, 1938

The Scottish Highlands

Isobel:

"How is she doing that?" Robert exclaimed as Minerva jubilantly nibbled on a biscuit. "I put that on the highest shelf in the larder!"

"You have to watch out for her," she said calmly even while rattled on the inside.

She turned to Minerva. "No more biscuits."

"But I'm hungry!"

"Then you should have eaten all your soup instead of just the meat."

Minerva made the face of a toddler ready to have a tantrum. Then it froze. Isobel noticed her husband's teacup was frozen to his lips.

She summoned her wand she had locked in her trunk all those years ago. She waved it around, looking for what had frozen her family.

Then they appeared: Josephine Vance with her blond hair in a French braid. Next to her was Beatrice Midgen with her dark hair cut short to around her chin. Both were dressed in what was stylish among muggles for the time period. Isobel knew them from when they were a few years ahead of her at Hogwarts.

"What do you want?" Isobel asked angrily.

"Have you read the muggle newspaper recently?" Beatrice asked calmly.

"What happened in Germany was tragic but not my concern," Isobel said.

"It's going to get worse," Josephine said. "Rumors are spreading about the construction of camps for killing people."

"Did either of you pay attention in the history of magic class?" Isobel asked. "Muggle affairs are none of our concern."

"Isobel, someone is helping Hitler," Beatrice said. "Assassination attempts keep failing. Warnings are falling on deaf ears. There is magic involved. We're fairly certain of it."

"Why do you want my help?" Isobel asked. "I have a young child!"

Josephine opened a pocket and pulled out a prophesy orb in a cage.

"This was produced by a seer in Paris," she said. "Touch it."

The thought terrified her. Nonetheless, she needed to know the contents. She touched the surface with the tip of her right index finger.

A woman with long white hair emerged. "A self-exiled woman in the highlands will defeat the puppet master of a man who will kill millions of muggles."

"It's in English," Isobel said.

"We're fairly certain it is you," Josephine said.

"Millions of Muggles," Isobel said slowly.

"The ministry of magic firmly believes this Hitler person falls out of our business," Beatrice said. "We were both sacked from our jobs for causing a ruckus in our departments. A friend stole the prophecy for us. The French ministry is following the lead of the British government even as it is believed Hitler will target France eventually."

"I remember you well Isobel," Josephine said. "You were dueling students twice your age with such vigor it was speculated you had to stop yourself from killing them. You are one of the most talented witches of our generation. We need you."

"But my child and my husband."

"Go Isobel," Robert said.

"You let him hear this conversation?" Isobel shouted. "Do you have any regard for secrecy statutes?"

"Isobel," Robert said. "I can barely comprehend what you've been hiding from me, but that is not the point right now. I have been receiving letters from friends trying to help Jewish people. If you can help stop the death of some innocents, I can look after Minerva."

"Oh, Robert," she said as tears formed in her eyes.

"I love you. I know our love will survive this."

Isobel turned to Josephine and Beatrice.

"I really don't have time to think about this do I?"

Josephine handed her a pound penny with a black X on one side.

"This will become a portkey by Saturday at midnight."

"One last question. What about Dumbledore? Can't he help?"

"The ministry is closely watching his movements," Beatrice said. "They need him to defeat Grindelwald."

"And I'm supposed to defeat someone controlling a man killing millions," Isobel said with a sigh.

"We believe you're up to it," Josephine said.

"I know you are," Beatrice said.

Isobel looked to little Minerva, mid-fit. She hoped she was doing the right thing.

…

Hogwarts September 2000

Minerva

There was nothing like a peaceful day at Hogwarts in September. Sure, the hospital wing had three students in it, but nothing life-threatening as Sprout knew to never let second years work with fully-matured mandrakes as students did dare each other to pull off their earmuffs from time to time as was the recent case. The first student assigned detention was a Gryffindor for throwing a Slytherin into the swamp square left in honor of the Weasley twins. This was business as usual Hogwarts.

She was reading the school board meeting minutes when Binns shot through the wall opposite a window, causing her to jump.

"Cuthbert, how many times over the last century have you been told not to do that?" she asked irritably.

"It doesn't matter," he shouted. "I have never met a more incorrigible first-year in my life! The girl is on my last nerve!"

"What has she been doing in class to cause you such trouble?"

"She questions everything. How do we know the goblin rebellion was quashed successfully if memory charms had been used? Could a witch have invented the self-stirring cauldron and her husband taken the credit for it?"

"They are not entirely unreasonable questions," Minerva said carefully.

"History is the fact as it has been recorded!" Binns said hotly. "Memory charms do not hide everything."

"What is the name of this troublesome student?" she asked

"Verity Bruin. Her parents are muggles. She has also started a history club!"

"I saw the proposal. It was very well-written for a child."

"But it's spreading. Minerva, I may be old but I am not a fool. I know students like to drowse and do other homework instead of paying attention to my class. I tolerate this because they still hand in their homework and pass the exams. But now even fourth-years are questioning my lessons. I do not like students interrupting my class!"

"I see she has a meeting this Saturday. I shall attend and then speak with her."

"Please do so! I will not tolerate any more questions about whether this 'atomic bomb' dropped by the muggles was actually the work of dragons."

Binns left the way he came.

Minerva couldn't help but be amused. Few students ever bothered Binns. Pranksters, like the Weasley twins, used the class to scheme. The last time anyone truly agitated Binns was when Hermione asked about the Chamber of Secrets. She wondered if the Bruin girl had found out about that yet.

Nevertheless, Bruin did need a lecture. She could seek out the truth on her own and needed to stop interrupting classes.

She thought about the collection of vials she kept in a trunk. A first-year couldn't find the truth, could they?