Albus and Minerva, The Early Years

Disclaimer Much as I wish I owned Albus and Minerva, I don't, if I did Albus would still be alive, and married to Minerva, which of course he actually is in every universe except JKR's. ;)

Prologue

The woman lay sleeping on the bed a new born babe cradled in her arms, the woman's face was flecked with dewdrops of perspiration, her rich red hair clung damply to her head. A tall wizard with midnight black hair touched with a hint of grey sat at the bedside, a soft fatherly smile lit up his face with a tender light, as he gazed at the two most important people in his life.

"You have your Mother's eyes little one." He said in a soft Scottish brogue, "One day you'll be a fine witch my lass, but for now you're my beautifull wee bairn." There was a hint of a tear in the man's eyes as he looked at his daughter, she had a shock of dark black hair, and the most intensely green eyes you had ever seen. To him she was a miracle of love. "Ah, my wee lass, you'll be needing a beautifull name, to go with that beautifull face, a name for someone who'll do great and good things, a special name." He murmured gently.

Hearing her father's voice the child stirred slightly, then reached out a hand and clutched her father's finger in her's, emerald eyes on him with what seemed like a smile to the adoring father.

"You've a firm grip for a wee one ...you'll have all your mother's fighting spirit and fire, I can see that." He said tenderly, as he smiled down at the baby.

The wizard was a gentle intelligent man who liked to read about many different subjects, he had a particular love of legends and mythology, and as he thought what to call his newborn daughter the legend of Minerva, the Roman goddess of courage, and wisdom, the goddess of warriors, popped into his mind. To him, it seemed a fine name for his lovely daughter.

"I think I'll be calling you Minerva, if your Ma agrees of course." He whispered softly.

"Naming our little lass already, are you, Adair ?" His wife was smiling up at him, with the same intense emerald eyes as their newborn daughter.

"Only if you're happy with the name too Mhairi." Adair McGonagall answered tenderly.

Mhairi McGonagall reached down and brushed the raven black hair out of her new born daughter's eyes, then gazed into them for a second before beaming proudly at her husband. "Do you see the fire in her eyes Adair ? She will have the heart and fight of a warrior ...the fire of a fighter ...Minerva suits her perfectly. We'll be needing a Gaelic middle name for her though ... a proud Scottish name ..."

"Aye, and she'll be having all her Mother's hot temper too ...." Adair murmured softly, then noticing his wife's fiercesome glare, added hastily, "One of the many things I love about you, mo gradh." His final words were a familliar endearment in the tongue of their Gaelic ancestors - a tender message of love and adoration for his beloved wife.

Mhairi's glare softened at these words, as she reached out and took her husband's hand in a firm warm grip, her face seeming to glow as he bent to kiss her cheek. "My Grandma was named Aileana ..." She said thoughtfully, "And her Mother before her too ..."

"Minerva Aileana McGonagall it is then." Adair said as they both gazed lovingly at the baby that slept peacefully cradled in their arms, and dreamed of what their fine daughter would do with her life.

Prologue Part Two

Eleven Years Later

The tall witch and wizard stood on the platform of King's Cross Station, heads swivelling anxiously as though looking for something or someone. Both of them wore a slightly harrassed expression as though they were never quite sure what would happen next.

"Where is Minerva now ?" Adair McGonagall asked, as he wrung his fingers together nervously.

"Merlin only knows ..." Mhairi McGonagall replied, her exasperation evident in her voice.

Suddenly they saw their daughter charging at full speed towards the wall of the station, pushing a packed luggage trolley in front of her. Minerva's legs were pounding faster and faster against the hard stone of the platform, the chests and cases on the trolley were rocking madly from side to side as it approached seemingly certain impact.

"MINERVA !!! NOOOOOOO!! That's the wrong platform." Her mother yelled desperately.

Minerva didn't seem to hear, impact was imminent. Her mother watched aghast, her father had covered his eyes with his hands, and was only daring to peer through his fingers. At the last moment the trolley screeched to a halt with barely an inch to spare.

At once Minerva's mother charged towards her reckless daughter, rage flickering in her emerald eyes, "Minerva Aileana McGonagall what do you think you are doing !?" She thundered.

Minerva's father on the other hand stood white faced and motionless on the platform, a slightly stunned expression on his face. His eyes seemed almost as though they would jump out of his head as he stared at his daughter in disbelief, and his mouth hung open in shock.

"Oh I was just practising." Minerva answered nochalantly, "I wanted to see what it felt like to run towards a wall."

"Well stop practising dear, before your poor father has a heart attack." Her mother said firmly.

Both Minerva and her mother turned to look at Adair, who had his head in his hands and was quivering like a leaf.

"Don't worry Dad, I've finished practising now." Minerva said matter of factly, "And I had it all precisely calculated, I knew exactly when to stop ..."

Her father's only response was a despairing groan, a response that Minerva and her mother were both well used to.

"Really Minerva try to remember how easily worried your father is." Mhairi said, as she rested a reassuring hand on her husbands shoulder.

"Sorry Dad." Minerva said.

"Practising, just practising that's all ..." Her father muttered to himself as he shook his head disbelivingly. Adair spent the next few minutes repeating the words, "practising, just practising", over and over again, interspersed with occasional disbelieving shakes of his head, while Minerva tried to distract him by showing him her new school books and his wife patted him soothingly on the arm.

At last, just as it was nearly time for Minerva to board the Hogwarts Express, Adair recovered from the fright his daughter had given him, and gathering his only child into his arms whispered tenderly, "Remember we're only a firecall away if you need us."

Next Minerva's mother wrapped her daughter in a warm hug, "You'll have a wonderful time at Hogwarts, just like me." She said, then slipped her arm fondly through her husband's as they watched their daughter run towards the wall of Platform Nine and Three Quarters.

"Try not to get into too much trouble ..." Adair called after his daughter as she drew closer to the wall.

Minerva turned to grin at her parents "Yes Dad." She said, just as she vanished from sight.

For a few minutes both Adair and Mhairi stood gazing after Minerva in silence, life would certainly be a lot more peaceful with Minerva away at Hogwarts, but both of them were going to miss her.

At last Adair broke the silence, "Did she mean Yes I will behave, or yes I will get into trouble ?" He wondered anxiously.

"Oh you worry too much, it'll do the old place good to be shaken up a bit." Mhairi answered firmly.

"There's a difference between shaking something up, and utterly destroying it ..." Adair said half to himself.

"It survived me didn't it ..." Mhairi replied, with a flicker of emerald flame in her eyes.

"Only just my dear." Adair answered, then jumped slightly as he felt his wife's familiar fiercesome glare burning into him. As they exited the station Mhairi could be clearly heard telling her husband exactly what she thought of him. Adair listened patiently, a small smile playing around his lips, 'At least it keeps her mind off missing Minerva,' he thought.

Author's Notes

Well it took longer than I forecast but finaly here's my long promised story about the early years of Albus' and Minerva's relationship. Please note that I took the decision to alter some timelines a little since I desperately wanted certain characters to be at school with Minerva, so this story could be considered a little au I suppose. I also decided to give Minerva a relatively happy family background, with kind loving parents. As for Albus and his family, I will not be complying with all the tragic family background in Deathly Hallows, since I didn't like it. Therefore Ariana will most likely be alive, and Albus' parents fairly loving but with failings.

This story will follow Minerva, and of course Albus, through her school years and beyond. Primarily it hopes to tell the tale of Albus and Minerva from their very first meeting. It's probably going to be very long, I already have some things that happen in her adult life planned. I have every intent to finish it, but there may be times when updates are a bit irregular due to real life. Initially expect lots of humour, with some more serious moments, as Minerva grows up there may be more angst, and doubtless some romance.

If you are interested to see more background details about the story, such as who is on the staff of Hogwarts during Minerva's schooldays then please go to my deviant art account, SylvaDragon and look in my journal there.

Minerva's parents names were chosen after researchng into traditional Gaelic names, as was Minerva's middle name. I feel that Minerva's Scottishness is very important to her, therefore it'd probably be important to her family too. Mo gradh, pronounced moi rah, is gaelic for my love.

Please review, since it helps to inspire me to keep going. Thanks go out to the folks on the Albus and Minerva Forums, and the Charming Roots Forums for their suggestions on people who would have been teaching during Minerva's School days.