Thanks to my friends for convincing me to do this. Who knew you were right? Thanks to Juliefan1, as well, for favoriting.
Disclaimer: You know the drill...I don't own J.K. Rowling's work.
"Miss Wyte, I take it you are ready to head off?"
The question shook Annabelle out of her thoughts and she blinked a few times before nodding. "Yes ma'am. I'm ready to go."
As Minerva stuck out her arm, Annabelle inwardly groaned and tightly grasped her arm. Suddenly, Belle felt a pull at her navel and her body felt like it was being squeezed through a tight tube before they suddenly landed with the young witch landing flat on her butt. It took Belle a minute to recover from apparating before she let Minerva pull her off the ground.
To both women's surprise, Minerva didn't release Annabelle's hand as they began to walk down the crowded streets of Diagon Alley. Minerva reasoned that it simply kept her from losing Annabelle in the crowd, but she also knew that she was lying to herself. She wanted to have the little girl close to her, but she didn't really know why except that she wanted to protect her.
Their first stop would be Gringotts, but they had to walk past many shops to get there. There were witches and wizards selling a great deal of goods. The goods ranged from strange silver instruments, to an assortment of eyes, to owls, to books, and even something as simple as robes. Annabelle wished she had more time to take it all in as they continued walking toward a huge white building, labeled "Gringotts Bank" in gold. On the opposite side of Gringotts was a darker, gloomier street. Annabelle's curiosity got the best of her and she gently squeezed her mentor's hand. "Where's that street lead to?"
Minerva smiled at the light squeeze. This was the kind of thing she had always dreamed of doing with a child of her own. The little things are what she missed. She and Albus had tried to have kids, only to find out that Minerva couldn't carry a child to term due to her injuries in the first wizarding war. Looking down Knockturn Alley, Minerva was reminded of the 'quality time' she spent with dark wizards. "That's Knockturn Alley. It's where many dark witches and wizards move about, lass. I'd recommend staying away from there." Squeezing her young charge's hand in return, Minerva led her up the stairs to Gringotts and into a wide room with many goblins spread throughout it. The professor walked all the way to the opposite side of the room and stopped in front of a tall counter, which came all the way up to her shoulders.
Annabelle couldn't even try to see over the top, but she didn't want to either. These goblins were really beginning to frighten her. They looked really mean and kept giving the pair very obvious, disapproving looks.
Minerva set her wand and a small silver key onto the counter and gave the goblin her best, stern, teacher look. "I'd like to make a withdrawal from the McGonagall vault." Though Minerva despised goblins as well, she didn't let them see it. She kept a constant facade while around people, or creatures, she didn't like or know very well.
The goblin, who they'd later found out was called Schmorick, picked up her wand and carefully studied it from every angle. No fraud would get past him. He then picked up the key and handed Minerva her wand again. "Follow me." His voice was gravelly and much lower than Annabelle had expected. He didn't wait to see if the women were following as he walked away. He ran his finger down the crevice of a door. Annabelle watched in awe as the door swung open before them and led them to what looked like a train cart. The goblin stepped onto it and gestured for them both to follow suit.
Once they were all on the cart, it took off and Annabelle found herself clinging to Minerva. Minerva was shocked by the sudden movement, but just wrapped her arms around her charge's frail figure and smiled. The professor would gladly keep Belle close if that's what she wanted. The goblin ignored the whole exchange, so no one knew that Minerva was grinning from ear to ear as she held the child close to her. When the cart finally stopped, Annabelle realized she was still clinging to Minerva and cleared her throat as she awkwardly stepped away, mumbling an apology as she did so. Gently, she squeezed the girl's shoulder, dismissing her apology with the simple action.
The goblin finally unlocked the vault and pronounced, "Vault 9,632: Minerva McGonagall. I will wait for you to collect your withdrawal before we head back up." He then stepped back onto the cart and stood, impatiently waiting for the witches to grab their money so he could go back to his desk.
Eventually, Annabelle pulled her gaze away from her shoes and was shocked by what she saw. Only a matter of meters away from her, were piles and piles of silver and gold coins. She couldn't help, but stare. The walls were lined with valuable trinkets and Minerva walked into the vault as if this was normal. Was it normal for witches and wizards to have so much money?
Grabbing a small red pouch out of her cloak pocket, Minerva took a heaping handful of gold coins and dropped them in. The pouch was smaller than her palm, but due to an undetectable extension charm, it could hold everything in her vault. Giving her decisions a second thought, she grabbed a few more gold and silver coins to stick in her pouch.
Upon turning around, Minerva was met with the sight of a stunned student. The professor just chuckled and led the girl back toward the cart, ignoring the goblin's muttering about slow humans. The ride back to Gringotts' lobby seemed to take longer than the decline. Part of that was due to the distance between Minerva and her young charge. The elder witch would have preferred to hold the child again, but she wasn't going to force herself upon the young girl. Belle would come to her if she wanted her comfort, right?
Just as they were exiting the building, a silver, partially transparent phoenix flew up to the pair, circling around Minerva's head once before stopping directly in front of her. The phoenix drew itself up to full height before it began to speak. "Give me another twenty minutes and I'll meet you at the Leaky Cauldron. Let me know if that won't work."
Minerva grinned and ran a hand through the silvery wisps as it began to fade away. "Are you willing to wait a little while longer before we eat?" Though Minerva would prefer to wait for her husband, this decision was completely up to her young charge. She was the one who looked almost emaciated, after all. Minerva was thin, but Albus would never let her get that bad again. It was hard enough gaining weight back the first time.
Annabelle couldn't help but nod at her professor's question. Who was she to tell her professor 'no?' She didn't know who they were waiting on and could only presume that it was the professor's husband.
"While we wait, would you like to stop by Madam Malkin's to get sized for your robes? They normally take about an hour or two to make, so we can pick them up later this afternoon." Minerva was ready to jump into this shopping business and get going. This fact shocked her, but she didn't let herself dwell on it. Plus, if she stayed like this, Pomona, Poppy, and Rolanda would be pleased with her. It would give them even more of a reason to like Annabelle.
For a moment, the young witch let everything excite her, but then she realized that she was on her own. Her parents didn't send her with any money to buy supplies with. She only had a little bit from doing chores for her neighbors and that was packed away at her professor's home. "Well, you see…professor… My parents didn't exactly send me with any money for supplies. Maybe today wouldn't be a good day to go shopping." By the time Annabelle finished speaking, her gaze was set firmly on the toe of her boots and she did not plan on changing this fact any time soon.
"Miss Wyte, I don't recall saying that you needed to go purchase your robes. I said you need to get sized for them." Minerva sighed and placed a finger under Annabelle's chin to lift her gaze again. "I will be purchasing your robes. You saw my vault. I have more than enough money for the both of us, lassie. Plus, even if I didn't have quite that much money at Gringotts, my husband has almost as much in his own vault. Now, I suggest we hurry over to Madam Malkin's to get you fitted before we go eat." With this, she let her hand come around Annabelle's shoulders and gently nudged her along. After a few steps, she let go but found herself missing the child's warmth already.
Annabelle stood still in shock until the elder witch pushed her along. Why was this witch being so generous? What did she have to gain for helping out a lonely kid who knew nothing about magic? She probably wasn't even smart enough to do very well at this school of hers. After all, she only just found out about magic.
Next thing she knew, Annabelle was being lightly pushed toward a door which seemed to open by itself. Now, Annabelle knew this couldn't be the case, but then again, everything seemed to be possible now. These thoughts were shooed out of her head as a petite witch came bustling their way.
"Oh, Minerva! You are looking just splendid, my dear. Now, who is this young lady you have with you? She must be one of your cubs! Oh, but she's so small. Can't be older than a second year. Oh, no. This won't do at all. Come here, dear. Let me measure you." The woman reached out, tugging on Annabelle's hand as she pulled her toward a step in the middle of the room. Annabelle obliged, but felt her whole body tense as the woman's hands continued to touch separate parts of her adolescent body. Of course, the woman meant no harm, but how was the young with to know that? She stood rigid in front of the seamstress, standing up straight upon instruction. Her mouth suddenly fell agape as numerous tape measures began to twist around her body, checking sizes all over her figure.
Minerva hadn't bothered to step in Madam Malkin's way as she began her work. "She needs school robes and at least one light cloak and one heavy one as well. The heavy one should be the same style that Albus got me last Christmas. Keep the colors standard blacks, greys, and whites. She's a first year, so we don't know what house she'll be in yet." At the look of disappointment that crossed the seamstress' face, Minerva sighed. "Fine, give her something in Gryffondor red. I know you'll do it anyway, so add that as well." The professor studied her new pupil for a moment before nodding. "I'm thinking we should add a couple of white button ups and a few pair of slacks. Again, keep them monotone. I don't need her ending up in Ravenclaw and being outfitted for Gryffondor. Filius will have my head." She smiled at this thought and made her way over to Madam Malkin. "How much will this be today?"
Madam Malkin started to shake her head when Professor McGonagall gave her a hard glare, reminiscent of the ones she gave her students at Hogwarts. "A galleon and six sickles."
Minerva again smiled and handed Madam Malkin the coins. She began to direct Annabelle to the door when she stopped to ask, "How long until they'll be ready?"
"An hour, maybe. It'll be two if I get a rush. Will you still be around?"
Minerva just nodded and ushered Annabelle out the door. "Now, I suggest we make our way back to the Leaky Cauldron. I expect Albus will be there when we arrive."
"Sure," Belle muttered. She didn't really want to share her time with anyone else. She was coming to really like Professor McGonagall already. She couldn't wait to see how good of a teacher she was. Surely, she was bloody brilliant. A small smile spread across her face, thinking about her classes at Hogwarts. She was really looking forward to this school year, even if she was a little nervous. However, she was much more nervous about meeting her professor's husband at the moment. If he didn't like her, then she probably wouldn't get to stay with them very long.
What if he hates me?