A/N:
I have absolutely no idea how to write a Scottish accent, so just imagine it's there. :)
In the town of Caithness, Scotland, a young girl was seated in the kitchen of a cozy cottage. Her name was Minerva McGonagall, and she was upset. Her mother and father were in the parlor, separated from her by only a wall, and they were fighting. Again. Fortunately, Minerva's two younger brothers, Malcolm and Robert Jr. were not there, having been told to go outside and play.
"You know, Isobel, I gave up a lot to marry you and father your children!"
"You gave up a lot?! Robert, I literally renounced my life's dream to stay with you! I renounced magic entirely!"
"And it's a good thing you did! How would I live having to lie to everyone about my wife being magic? I'm a pastor! That would have wrecked my life!"
"It wrecked mine, Robert! But do you care? No! And why would you?! You don't understand a thing about me!"
Minerva sighed. This was not the first fight her parents had had. Her father was a Muggle, or non-magical, pastor in Caithness, and her mother was a witch, and had gone to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry before meeting Minerva's father. They had fallen in love, and gotten married, Robert Sr. having no idea about the large secret his new wife was keeping from him. There was a very simple reason for all of this. The Statute of Secrecy. The International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy had first been signed in 1689, but formally introduced in 1692. This statute hid wizarding presence from Muggles and prohibited magical people from telling Muggles about magic. In the case of a magical and non-magical marriage, the witch or wizard could not tell their Muggle spouse about magic until a child was born and was showing signs of magic. For Isobel and Robert, this meant that Robert had no idea that his wife was magical until Minerva was a few months old, when she began showing signs of magic. This prompted Isobel to spill the truth about her upbringing to Robert, and it created a rift between the two. This rift, however, became a canyon when Minerva's younger brother Malcolm was born, and then a chasm when the youngest, Robert Jr. was born, both also showing signs of magic.
Minerva looked back at her parents, who were showing no signs of ending their fight, and hopped off her chair, heading towards her bedroom. Being the eldest child and only girl, she didn't have to share, while Malcolm and Robert Jr. did.
Inside, she looked around before heading to her bed and sitting down. Her bedroom was by no means large, but it was just big enough for her. The walls were a light green; she had magically painted them when she was about five years old. Though only the tender age of nine, Minerva was turning into a very powerful witch. Indeed, when her mother had explained to her what magic was, Minerva had become determined to be the best witch she could be, no matter what. Because of this, she had started try to harness her magic at around seven years old. Not that it had worked, of course. She hadn't been able to accomplish any sort of actual magic until a few weeks ago, and it was still a struggle every time she tried. Despite the hardships, Minerva knew that, no matter what, she would become the brightest witch of her age, whether through talent or hard work.
-HP-
As the year went by, Minerva grew more aware of the growing distaste between her mother and father. From what she could tell, her mother had loved her father enough to renounce her wizarding heritage for him. Her father, on the other hand, was a devout religious man, and as such had ideas about magic that were firmly ingrained in his mind; ideas that were most definitely not praising magic. And even though Minerva favored her father, she could not wait to get her letter to Hogwarts. When she turned ten, she was even more excited than ever.
"Mum, when am I going to get my Hogwarts letter?" she asked one day when her father was out of town.
Isobel turned towards her daughter, "The summer after you turn eleven, Min."
"But that's so far away!"
"The time will fly by, I'm sure of it."
Minerva pouted, "How are you so sure? It's already been so long!"
Isobel smiled slightly, "I felt the same way."
"Really?" Minerva gasped.
"Yes," Isobel replied, "Don't you worry, you'll be at Hogwarts before you know it," she turned away from her daughter, trying to hide the tears that threatened to show. As much as she loved her daughter's enthusiasm, Isobel dreaded that day that her eldest child would leave home.
-HP-
On Minerva's eleventh birthday, she was bursting with excitement. She had awoken hours before her parents, too excited to get a full night's rest. Soon, she would get her Hogwarts letter! Though, she supposed, it was only October - and the beginning of October at that! - and her mother had said her letter would come in the summer. Still, she couldn't wait! She hadn't had much experience with magic in her eleven years, as her mother didn't do magic anymore. All she knew was her brothers' use of accidental magic, hers having been too long ago for her to remember it. She frowned, realizing that her mother didn't even have a wand, as far as she knew. But that didn't make sense; her mother went to Hogwarts, of course she would have a wand. Even if she did, Minerva had never seen it, let alone seen her mother use it. Minerva didn't think about it for long, she had a birthday party to host!