I was saddened to discover that the great Dame Maggie Smith passed away this week. She was a fantastic actress whom I greatly admired for her various roles in theatre and television. Her portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall was brilliant and exactly how I imagined McGonagall to be like when I first read the Harry Potter books.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and I expect to post the next ones fairly soon.

28 December 2006

The Publishing House that ran Transfiguration Today was based in a four-storey building in central London. As well as housing the Publishing Assistants, Editors, Graphic Designers, and Writers who contributed to the creation of the magazine, the building also hosted a small bookshop for visitors to explore, as well as a well-stocked Library filled to the brim with Transfiguration books, and some artefacts exhibited a few times a year.

This week, after an enjoyable trip to see the animagi exhibition, Minerva had picked up a new volume to add to her ever-growing collection of Transfiguration books and was now sitting in the Library, in what had been her and Albus' customary spot. She was peacefully reading the blurb of her book when a small boy with light brown hair came wandering into the small booth Minerva was sitting in.

"Hello," he said. "You're not my Granny."

"I'm afraid not," Minerva replied. She closed her book and looked at the young boy, who could not have been any older than five years, she thought. "Are you lost?"

He shook his head. "I know where I am. I'm in a Library," he said. "My Granny left me by the funny-looking machine at the entrance and told me not to move until she got back."

Minerva, who had noticed the black ink staining the boy's hands, assumed that he had been left next to one of the printing presses outside. "I see you have not followed her advice," she pointed out.

"I got bored," he sighed. "But now I can't find her anywhere and it's been absolutely ages. She'll be very worried."

"I expect so," Minerva agreed. "Perhaps if you head to the front desk you can ask a member of staff to help you?"

"I don't know where the front desk is. Will you show me, please—erm," he frowned and looked at her quizzically, "what's your name?"

"Minerva McGonagall," Minerva replied.

"Oh, the teacher? I know you—my Godfather speaks about you," the boy said. He smiled cheerfully and, in a display of maturity that belied his age, stuck out his cleaner hand for Minerva to shake. "I'm Teddy Lupin."

Minerva bit back a smile as she shook the boy's hand. There were not many metamorphmagi in the Wizarding World, and if the striking resemblance between this young boy and Remus Lupin had not been enough to convince Minerva of the boy's identity, it was the fact that his hair had not stopped changing from brown, to green to electric-blue and now bubblegum-pink, Tonk's favourite if Minerva remembered correctly.

"Andromeda's grandson," she said, and Teddy nodded. "It is nice to meet you, Teddy. I would be more than happy to accompany you to the front desk. Although, I think it would be wise to remove this ink from your hands first. May I take a look?"

Teddy obligingly displayed his palms up for Minerva to inspect. Almost immediately, the black ink vanished, and Teddy's hands were clean again.

"You didn't use your wand!"

"One does not always require a wand to conduct magic," Minerva replied. "Particularly if it is a rather simple spell."

Teddy's jaw dropped and eyes widened in undisguised wonder, making Minerva smile slightly. "Wow," he said.

She picked up her cane, stood up and motioned for him to follow her. "Come along now, your Grandmother will not be far, I am sure."

She strode out of between the rolling stacks in the Library, Teddy trotting along beside her. His hair was now a brilliant golden colour, Minerva noticed, as he spoke animatedly about the spells he wanted to learn when he got his first wand.

"And then there's the Bat-Bogey—Oh, there's Granny," Teddy interrupted himself. He pointed at the front desk, where Andromeda Tonks was speaking with a rather disgruntled looking Library Assistant.

"Madam there is no need to take that tone," the Library Assistant was saying. "And—isn't that the boy there?"

Teddy was already running towards Andromeda as she turned around. He flew into her arms, causing her to stumble back a few paces, and Minerva watched as Andromeda's expression morphed from surprise to relief, to displeasure in quick succession.

"What have I told you about wandering off, Teddy? I leave you to be supervised for 5 minutes," she added, shooting a reproachful look in the direction of the Library Assistant, "and the next thing I know, you have disappeared."

"I'm sorry, Granny. I got lost," came Teddy's muffled reply. He wriggled out of Andromeda's arms and pointed towards Minerva. "Minerva found me."

"Min—oh! Professor McGonagall!"

Minerva had met Andromeda on numerous occasions since her school days at Hogwarts were over. In fact, they were on quite friendly terms and frequently bumped into each other at the Burrow or Hermione's residence. It amused Minerva somewhat that despite this, and the many years that had elapsed since she had been a student, she was still referred to as Professor McGonagall.

"You have a very inquisitive young boy here, Mrs Tonks. I believe his curiosity took him a little too deep into the Library," Minerva said. "I do not think he meant any harm by it."

She shot a glance at Teddy, who nodded vigorously. "That's right Granny," he said. "And it won't happen again," he added.

Andromeda did not look convinced. "I have heard that one before, young man," she said, but she did not press him and instead turned to Minerva again. "Thank you for finding him, Professor McGonagall. I really am very grateful. Harry was meant to mind him for me while I sorted a few affairs, but he's just whisked Ginny to hospital—baby on the way," she added hurriedly when she saw Minerva's concern.

"Ladies I really must ask that you leave the Library if you are to continue this conversation. This is meant to be—"

"A silent and peaceful area for serious academic study, yes, yes," Andromeda interrupted impatiently. Clearly, she had still not forgiven the man for having lost track of her grandson in the space of five minutes.

Although he should never have been persuaded to agree to Androma's request in the first place, childminding was not really part of the poor man's job description, Minerva privately noted. Feeling a little sorry for him, Minerva intervened before Andromeda was tempted to snap again. "Apologies, Arnold. You are right, of course, and we shall move our discussion to somewhere more appropriate" Minerva said, and she smiled which seemed to mollify him.

"Thank you," he said. "Would you like me to order that book you mentioned earlier, Mrs McGonagall? We can get it to you for next Saturday."

"I would be much obliged, thank you Arnold."

He nodded once, looked darkly at Andromeda who was thankfully looking another way, and then returned to his position behind the enquiry desk.

"Have you settled those affairs you were attending to?" Minerva asked when they were safely out of the Library and out of Arnold's acutely sensitive earshot.

"I have an appointment at Gringotts," Andromeda said. "And I have a few presents yet to purchase," she added, her eyes darting in Teddy's direction.

Teddy, oblivious to Andromeda's worrying, beamed. "It's my birthday soon," he said excitedly.

It would not have taken a mind-reader to discover that Andromeda was in desperate need to buy Teddy his birthday present. Minerva checked her watch and then, coming to a decision cleared her throat.

"Andromeda, I would be happy to supervise Teddy for a few hours, if that can be of any help?"

Andromeda's eyes widened. "Really?" she said, and from the tone of her voice, it was clear that that was what she wanted.

"Certainly. It really cannot be more than a few hours," Minerva said seriously, and she could see Andromeda biting back a smile as the teacher in Minerva came to the surface. "But if it will help—"

"Very much so, Professor McGonagall! If you are sure, then I would be exceedingly grateful."

Minerva nodded. "I believe that is settled then," she said. "I have an appointment at 3 o'clock that I really cannot be late for. Would that give you enough time?"

"Yes, entirely enough!"

"Excellent," Minerva said briskly. "We won't stray very far from Flourish & Blotts."

"Thank you, Professor," Andromeda said. She then looked at Teddy. "Behave yourself, please. Do exactly as Professor McGonagall tells you."

Teddy nodded, and then, after expressing another thanks to Minerva, Andromeda was off and swallowed up into the London crowd. Teddy looked at Minerva. "Do I need to call you Professor McGonagall too?"

A smile tugged at Minerva's lips, and after a moment's thought, she finally shook her head. "No need to stand on ceremony. I believe I introduced myself as Minerva, and Minerva will do just fine for today."

"All right, Minerva." He smiled, his hair now black like hers, and he held out his hand for her to take. "Where are we going to first?"