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Chapter 1: The Badge

Minerva McGonagall did have her reasons for keeping the door to her bedroom shut at all times. To say her room was untidy was quite an understatement. The floor was covered with books and parchment, her desk was occupied by her owl Zeus - or his cage at least - but she didn't use it much anyway. Studying magic meant to her sitting on the floor - or sometimes on her bed - surrounded with books and notes. She liked doing things her way and sitting at her desk like a proper model student just wasn't her. However, she did love the smell of books and she did have a great thirst for knowledge. She wasn't all that keen for summer break to end though. She had read her way through next year's school books, she already knew what she was going to be taught in her fifth year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry and she felt she might get bored with classes... again. There weren't that many reasons to return to school in September, one very important one was that her parents made her. Another was that she probably wouldn't get a job without graduating, but it wasn't like she had any idea what she wanted to do with the rest of her life anyway.

The soft rustling of feathers and a sudden weight on top of her head woke Minerva with a start. Zeus' weight on her head pushed her nose deeper into the book she had fallen asleep over. Groaning she sat up while her owl didn't move and she wondered how she had been able to fall asleep in this uncomfortable position on the floor. Zeus, who had the bad habit of always landing on her head, held on to her dark hair as she stood up.

"Alright Zeus, I'm up." She growled and raised her left arm to her head suggesting the grey eagle owl should rather sit on her wrist. Almost unwillingly he did so and with her free hand she unfastened the parchment from his leg. Once she got it, he took off to sit on his bar near the window. Minerva threw herself onto her bed and unfolded the letter with a smile on her face. This was another good reason to return to Hogwarts.

Dear Minerva,

One week to go! I assume you're bored to death? Believe me, it does make a difference when you're allowed to do magic at home, I'm afraid I'm annoying my parents quite a bit, they'll breath a sigh of relief when the Hogwarts Express departs.

However, they were absolutely exhilarated when they found out I'm becoming Head Boy. My dad gave me the responsibility-talk, he went mental over it, my mom too... anyway, the thing is, they want to celebrate the occasion. You will come, won't you? Just to save me from horrible relatives? It'll take place the last weekend of the holidays, let me know if you can make it. You're parents are invited, too, of course, it'll be huge family thing, I'm afraid... don't even ask.

How have you been anyway, any exciting things planned before school?

Looking forward to seeing you!

Love, F

She smiled even more finishing the letter. Somehow he just managed to cheer her up even with something as simple as a letter. His cheerful personality just came across in every line. Filius Flitwick was her closest friend, something like an older brother... or little brother considering his height. She couldn't help but think of the first time she had met the Ravenclaw who was two years her senior. She had been in her third year at Hogwarts and found out that there was such a thing as a dueling club. Something like a student organization only pretty good students got in, one had to be at least a forth year to join. Of course that couldn't have stopped her from showing up at that year's first meeting anyway. Sure, she had been told she had no business being there yet, but since there were no teachers involved, she didn't take it all that seriously.

"Okay, let's compromise, you beat me in a duel, you can stay." Promised a tiny Ravenclaw she had never talked to before. Naturally she had agreed, he hadn't looked that imposing, especially since he barely reached her shoulder in height. That had been the day she had learned never to judge people by their looks. She had managed to score a few hits but in the end, he had smashed her with hardly any effort. Following that disgrace she had been exceedingly surprised when he had told her she could stay nonetheless. Only then had she been told that he was the president of the club and that losing to him was expected.

"Anyway." He had said. "You did a better job than a lot of people here."

Minerva rolled over and reached for an empty piece of parchment, a quill and ink. Then she threw her pillow aside so she could write. She didn't get very far though since there was a knock on the door only seconds later.

"Minerva?" Sounded her mother's voice and the young witch rolled her eyes.

"Yeah?" She gave back and glanced towards the door. "What is it?"

"Would you mind opening the door?" Her mother asked, obviously not too pleased with her daughter habit of locking her door.

"I would, what is it?" Minerva replied and returned to her letter.

"Alohomora." Came an annoyed sigh and the door swung open.

"Mom! I don't run around the house opening doors by magic when I'm not asked in!" She stated angrily.

"That because you're under-aged and not allowed to use magic outside school." Cornelia McGonagall answered without paying her daughter's snotting comment any more attention. She was carrying an envelope and went on: "A letter from Hogwarts."

"I already got all my books, why would I need the list?" She asked indifferently.

"It's not about the books."

"You read my letter?" Minerva demanded to know giving her a very angry look, but her mother just smiled and held out the letter to her. Her happy expression made Minerva suspicious. This couldn't end well. In any case she wouldn't be expelled or anything like that, then her mom's face would look very different indeed. Reluctantly she took the envelope and emptied the content into her hand. "Oh Merlin's beard..." She sighed examining the Prefect badge in her hand. "There's got to be some sort of a mix-up, why would they give that to me of all people?" Cornelia on the other hand just smiled proudly.

"Well, you must have impressed someone at school."

"Maybe they got the address wrong..." Minerva said hopefully as she unfolded the enclosed letter. She had always assumed the teachers saw her as an annoying, arrogant teenage witch who knew nothing better to do with her time than causing trouble. She felt her mother's watchful eyes upon her and gave her an annoyed glance. "I'd like to read the letter for myself if you don't mind."

"Sure." Cornelia gave back, obviously nothing could rain on her parade right now. She had probably given up hope on her only daughter but this appeared to prove her wrong. "Also, you should at least clear the floor." She said on her way out and Minerva rolled her eyes. Then she surveyed the letter in her hand which was written in green ink. It had been written by the Head of Gryffindor house, Albus Dumbledore.

Shortly after, Minerva came down the winded stairs while the portraits on the walls bade her a good morning. Just the portrait of her great-grandfather on her father's side, who usually was in a bad mood, stated that if it was up to him she wouldn't sleep through half of the day.

"It's hardly 10 o'clock." She gave back but didn't wait for a reply on her way to the kitchen. There she found her father sitting at the table and reading the Daily Prophet.

"Something interesting happening in the wide world?" She asked while she made herself breakfast.

"It appears as if Grindelwald is gathering more followers every day." Demetrius McGonagall stated and pushed up his thin glasses without looking up.

"Is he gonna take on the Ministry?" She wondered and sat down across from him at the kitchen table. From the back of the paper, the most feared dark wizard of their time looked at her. Then the picture changed. It now showed a group of young men who were escorted into the Ministry building by Aurors. When her father noticed she was surveying the back page, he took a look at it as well.

"We brought those guys in after they had killed a group of Muggles." He explained thoughtfully. Demetrius had been an Auror for many years and had fought many dark wizards in his time, but the fact that so many young wizards and witches crossed to the dark side shocked even him. "They're barely older than you are, hard to believe, isn't it?"

"I just don't understand what would make people do such things." She replied studying the faces of the young murderers as if she could look at them and see if the were evil. Some of these guys she had seen walk the corridors of Hogwarts just a few years ago.

"Just because we don't understand horrible deeds doesn't mean we're not capable of them. A human being is capable of almost anything with the right motivation..." Demetrius reminded her and put the Daily Prophet aside. Minerva looked at him frowning.

"And what was their motivation?" He shrugged.

"That's probably something we really can't understand. Wizards who crossed to the dark side aren't lead by reason. What you should remember is that some like to display their... superiority and they don't value human life much." At that point she noticed how tired her father looked. There had always been dark wizard causing fear and destruction. It was a long and tiresome fight she didn't expected to end. Today it was Grindelwald, maybe next time it would be a Hogwarts student. Who could tell? She looked down at her plate and realized she had lost her appetite.

"Are you gonna eat that?" Cornelia asked who had just entered the kitchen. So Minerva forced herself to eat at least one slice of toast.

"Filius has been named Head Boy." She then told her parents to get to break the uncomfortable silence. The McGonagalls had always liked the Ravenclaw boy a lot and kept in touch with his parents. At one occasion or another Filius and Minerva had suspected their parents were trying to pair them off. That, however, was something that would never happen and hopefully their parents had realized that by now. With both of them being only-children, they loved each other like the sibling they didn't have but that was it. Period.

"That's wonderful!" Cornelia beamed. "Well deserved."

"Absolutely." Minerva nodded in agreement. "His parents are planning a huge party next weekend and we're invited, can we go?"

"Of course." Her mother smiled almost instantly.

"Great." She grinned and looked at her father who also nodded with a smile.

When she returned to her room, she locked the door behind herself although she knew it wouldn't keep her parents out. It was a habit. She picked up her writing equipment from the bed - she hadn't even begun writing - and her eyes fell onto Dumbledore's letter again. She had always thought he didn't like her much. He usually was very strict with her which was probably why he was one of the few teachers she really respected. But strictness and discipline wasn't really what it took for her to respect someone. There was something about Dumbledore, something that made respect come naturally. Maybe it was his calm attitude and the fact that he could see through everyone. Also, she was aware of his power. People said he was on his way of becoming the most powerful wizard of all time, maybe he already was... Thus, she had tried to say out of trouble when he was around, but in the end that was quite pointless. After all, he was her house teacher and responsible for her. Naturally, he would find out about her rule-breaking anyway. At the end of the day it had been his decision to make her a Prefect. Maybe he had hoped she would become more responsible? She doubted that that would work. She wondered why he had chosen her of all people. There were enough talented and much more sensible students in her year who were more deserving and wanted the job. There was nothing she could do about it now though, it was Dumbledore's decision alone. Maybe someday she'd find out what the idea behind it was...

She sat down at her desk and finally wrote to Filius:

Dear Filius,

I'm so gonna be there next weekend! My parents are coming, too. It's so great you got Head Boy, you really, really deserve it! I'd be extremely undeserving of such a thing, don't you think? That being said, you'll never guess what happened to me: Dumbledore made me a Prefect, for whatever reason. I really don't want it and frankly, I don't see the point! My mom is beyond thrilled, I suppose she had given up on me.

Yeah, I'm pretty bored, the restriction of under-aged magic is totally pointless, I wish I could have actually tried all those spells I read about all summer. Being allowed to do magic is certainly a good reason to return to Hogwarts! I can't believe though that this will be your last year, what am I supposed to do without you? What'll become of the dueling club?

I'm looking forward to the party, with the right people it'll be great. I hope your insufferable, more distant relatives won't be there?

Anyway, I suppose my parents will talk to yours to discuss when we'll come over and how long we're gonna stay and stuff. I'll be seeing you next Saturday in any case!

Love, M

Description
Chapter 1: The Badge

Minerva McGonagall did have her reasons for keeping the door to her bedroom shut at all times. To say her room was untidy was quite an understatement. The floor was covered with books and parchment, her desk was occupied by her owl Zeus - or his cage at least - but she didn't use it much anyway. Studying magic meant to her sitting on the floor - or sometimes on her bed - surrounded with books and notes. She liked doing things her way and sitting at her desk like a proper model student just wasn't her. However, she did love the smell of books and she did have a great thirst for knowledge. She wasn't all that keen for summer break to end though. She had read her way through next year's school books, she already knew what she was going to be taught in her fifth year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry and she felt she might get bored with classes... again. There weren't that many reasons to return to school in September, one very important one was that her parents made her. Another was that she probably wouldn't get a job without graduating, but it wasn't like she had any idea what she wanted to do with the rest of her life anyway.

The soft rustling of feathers and a sudden weight on top of her head woke Minerva with a start. Zeus' weight on her head pushed her nose deeper into the book she had fallen asleep over. Groaning she sat up while her owl didn't move and she wondered how she had been able to fall asleep in this uncomfortable position on the floor. Zeus, who had the bad habit of always landing on her head, held on to her dark hair as she stood up.

"Alright Zeus, I'm up." She growled and raised her left arm to her head suggesting the grey eagle owl should rather sit on her wrist. Almost unwillingly he did so and with her free hand she unfastened the parchment from his leg. Once she got it, he took off to sit on his bar near the window. Minerva threw herself onto her bed and unfolded the letter with a smile on her face. This was another good reason to return to Hogwarts.

Dear Minerva,

One week to go! I assume you're bored to death? Believe me, it does make a difference when you're allowed to do magic at home, I'm afraid I'm annoying my parents quite a bit, they'll breath a sigh of relief when the Hogwarts Express departs.

However, they were absolutely exhilarated when they found out I'm becoming Head Boy. My dad gave me the responsibility-talk, he went mental over it, my mom too... anyway, the thing is, they want to celebrate the occasion. You will come, won't you? Just to save me from horrible relatives? It'll take place the last weekend of the holidays, let me know if you can make it. You're parents are invited, too, of course, it'll be huge family thing, I'm afraid... don't even ask.

How have you been anyway, any exciting things planned before school?

Looking forward to seeing you!

Love, F

She smiled even more finishing the letter. Somehow he just managed to cheer her up even with something as simple as a letter. His cheerful personality just came across in every line. Filius Flitwick was her closest friend, something like an older brother... or little brother considering his height. She couldn't help but think of the first time she had met the Ravenclaw who was two years her senior. She had been in her third year at Hogwarts and found out that there was such a thing as a dueling club. Something like a student organization only pretty good students got in, one had to be at least a forth year to join. Of course that couldn't have stopped her from showing up at that year's first meeting anyway. Sure, she had been told she had no business being there yet, but since there were no teachers involved, she didn't take it all that seriously.

"Okay, let's compromise, you beat me in a duel, you can stay." Promised a tiny Ravenclaw she had never talked to before. Naturally she had agreed, he hadn't looked that imposing, especially since he barely reached her shoulder in height. That had been the day she had learned never to judge people by their looks. She had managed to score a few hits but in the end, he had smashed her with hardly any effort. Following that disgrace she had been exceedingly surprised when he had told her she could stay nonetheless. Only then had she been told that he was the president of the club and that losing to him was expected.

"Anyway." He had said. "You did a better job than a lot of people here."

Minerva rolled over and reached for an empty piece of parchment, a quill and ink. Then she threw her pillow aside so she could write. She didn't get very far though since there was a knock on the door only seconds later.

"Minerva?" Sounded her mother's voice and the young witch rolled her eyes.

"Yeah?" She gave back and glanced towards the door. "What is it?"

"Would you mind opening the door?" Her mother asked, obviously not too pleased with her daughter habit of locking her door.

"I would, what is it?" Minerva replied and returned to her letter.

"Alohomora." Came an annoyed sigh and the door swung open.

"Mom! I don't run around the house opening doors by magic when I'm not asked in!" She stated angrily.

"That because you're under-aged and not allowed to use magic outside school." Cornelia McGonagall answered without paying her daughter's snotting comment any more attention. She was carrying an envelope and went on: "A letter from Hogwarts."

"I already got all my books, why would I need the list?" She asked indifferently.

"It's not about the books."

"You read my letter?" Minerva demanded to know giving her a very angry look, but her mother just smiled and held out the letter to her. Her happy expression made Minerva suspicious. This couldn't end well. In any case she wouldn't be expelled or anything like that, then her mom's face would look very different indeed. Reluctantly she took the envelope and emptied the content into her hand. "Oh Merlin's beard..." She sighed examining the Prefect badge in her hand. "There's got to be some sort of a mix-up, why would they give that to me of all people?" Cornelia on the other hand just smiled proudly.

"Well, you must have impressed someone at school."

"Maybe they got the address wrong..." Minerva said hopefully as she unfolded the enclosed letter. She had always assumed the teachers saw her as an annoying, arrogant teenage witch who knew nothing better to do with her time than causing trouble. She felt her mother's watchful eyes upon her and gave her an annoyed glance. "I'd like to read the letter for myself if you don't mind."

"Sure." Cornelia gave back, obviously nothing could rain on her parade right now. She had probably given up hope on her only daughter but this appeared to prove her wrong. "Also, you should at least clear the floor." She said on her way out and Minerva rolled her eyes. Then she surveyed the letter in her hand which was written in green ink. It had been written by the Head of Gryffindor house, Albus Dumbledore.

Shortly after, Minerva came down the winded stairs while the portraits on the walls bade her a good morning. Just the portrait of her great-grandfather on her father's side, who usually was in a bad mood, stated that if it was up to him she wouldn't sleep through half of the day.

"It's hardly 10 o'clock." She gave back but didn't wait for a reply on her way to the kitchen. There she found her father sitting at the table and reading the Daily Prophet.

"Something interesting happening in the wide world?" She asked while she made herself breakfast.

"It appears as if Grindelwald is gathering more followers every day." Demetrius McGonagall stated and pushed up his thin glasses without looking up.

"Is he gonna take on the Ministry?" She wondered and sat down across from him at the kitchen table. From the back of the paper, the most feared dark wizard of their time looked at her. Then the picture changed. It now showed a group of young men who were escorted into the Ministry building by Aurors. When her father noticed she was surveying the back page, he took a look at it as well.

"We brought those guys in after they had killed a group of Muggles." He explained thoughtfully. Demetrius had been an Auror for many years and had fought many dark wizards in his time, but the fact that so many young wizards and witches crossed to the dark side shocked even him. "They're barely older than you are, hard to believe, isn't it?"

"I just don't understand what would make people do such things." She replied studying the faces of the young murderers as if she could look at them and see if the were evil. Some of these guys she had seen walk the corridors of Hogwarts just a few years ago.

"Just because we don't understand horrible deeds doesn't mean we're not capable of them. A human being is capable of almost anything with the right motivation..." Demetrius reminded her and put the Daily Prophet aside. Minerva looked at him frowning.

"And what was their motivation?" He shrugged.

"That's probably something we really can't understand. Wizards who crossed to the dark side aren't lead by reason. What you should remember is that some like to display their... superiority and they don't value human life much." At that point she noticed how tired her father looked. There had always been dark wizard causing fear and destruction. It was a long and tiresome fight she didn't expected to end. Today it was Grindelwald, maybe next time it would be a Hogwarts student. Who could tell? She looked down at her plate and realized she had lost her appetite.

"Are you gonna eat that?" Cornelia asked who had just entered the kitchen. So Minerva forced herself to eat at least one slice of toast.

"Filius has been named Head Boy." She then told her parents to get to break the uncomfortable silence. The McGonagalls had always liked the Ravenclaw boy a lot and kept in touch with his parents. At one occasion or another Filius and Minerva had suspected their parents were trying to pair them off. That, however, was something that would never happen and hopefully their parents had realized that by now. With both of them being only-children, they loved each other like the sibling they didn't have but that was it. Period.

"That's wonderful!" Cornelia beamed. "Well deserved."

"Absolutely." Minerva nodded in agreement. "His parents are planning a huge party next weekend and we're invited, can we go?"

"Of course." Her mother smiled almost instantly.

"Great." She grinned and looked at her father who also nodded with a smile.

When she returned to her room, she locked the door behind herself although she knew it wouldn't keep her parents out. It was a habit. She picked up her writing equipment from the bed - she hadn't even begun writing - and her eyes fell onto Dumbledore's letter again. She had always thought he didn't like her much. He usually was very strict with her which was probably why he was one of the few teachers she really respected. But strictness and discipline wasn't really what it took for her to respect someone. There was something about Dumbledore, something that made respect come naturally. Maybe it was his calm attitude and the fact that he could see through everyone. Also, she was aware of his power. People said he was on his way of becoming the most powerful wizard of all time, maybe he already was... Thus, she had tried to say out of trouble when he was around, but in the end that was quite pointless. After all, he was her house teacher and responsible for her. Naturally, he would find out about her rule-breaking anyway. At the end of the day it had been his decision to make her a Prefect. Maybe he had hoped she would become more responsible? She doubted that that would work. She wondered why he had chosen her of all people. There were enough talented and much more sensible students in her year who were more deserving and wanted the job. There was nothing she could do about it now though, it was Dumbledore's decision alone. Maybe someday she'd find out what the idea behind it was...

She sat down at her desk and finally wrote to Filius:

Dear Filius,

I'm so gonna be there next weekend! My parents are coming, too. It's so great you got Head Boy, you really, really deserve it! I'd be extremely undeserving of such a thing, don't you think? That being said, you'll never guess what happened to me: Dumbledore made me a Prefect, for whatever reason. I really don't want it and frankly, I don't see the point! My mom is beyond thrilled, I suppose she had given up on me.

Yeah, I'm pretty bored, the restriction of under-aged magic is totally pointless, I wish I could have actually tried all those spells I read about all summer. Being allowed to do magic is certainly a good reason to return to Hogwarts! I can't believe though that this will be your last year, what am I supposed to do without you? What'll become of the dueling club?

I'm looking forward to the party, with the right people it'll be great. I hope your insufferable, more distant relatives won't be there?

Anyway, I suppose my parents will talk to yours to discuss when we'll come over and how long we're gonna stay and stuff. I'll be seeing you next Saturday in any case!

Love, M