Minerva remembered the first time she'd seen James Potter walk into the Great Hall. He was small and nervous but she knew better. She noticed the determination in his eye, the firm way that he walked up to the sorting hat. She gave a rare smile when she heard the hat roar "Gryffindor!" and watched the small James Potter run haphazardly towards the Gryffindor table, beaming all the way.

He quickly became one of her favorite students in just first year. He was cheeky with a flare for mischief and yet considering and caring when it mattered. She saw as James Potter chose his best friends. Sirius, Remus and Peter. He defended them as if they were his own flesh and blood and Minerva quickly decided they might as well be.

She became suspicious when she saw the books on becoming animagi in James' bag when she passed his desk. She caught his eye and started sternly at him but he just grinned up at her and shook his head. A plea for trust and silence, inclining her head gently she walked away and left him to his plans. Minerva watched months later as Remus Lupin grew more relaxed and healthy around his transformations. It wasn't until she heard Black and Potter talking in hushed whispers that she knew for sure they'd succeeded, after all "I love it Prongs!" and "thought you'd like it, Padfoot" were quite incriminating phrases. It gave her a sense of pride that her boys had manged one of the most difficult pieces of magic whilst still in school.

Minerva saw the longing on James' face as he looked at Lily Evans. She also saw the way Lily would blush when she noticed his stares, even if she did hide it behind a wall of scorn and ridicule. If Potter and Evans ended up with assigned seats next to each other after that in Transfiguration that was purely coincidence. She smirked to herself when she noticed Lily come in wearing James' Quidditch jumper with 'Potter' on the back months later.

It was one of the happiest moments of her life when she received the invitation to Lily and James' wedding. She cried silently as she watched James look at his wife as if she was the most important thing on earth. They'd made her so proud, they were both so talented.

When Harry James Potter was born she was one of the first to rush down and see him. She adored him from the moment she set eyes on the little boy. He already had his father's hair but the bright, green eyes of his mother. She did a rare thing then. She pulled James close and congratulated him. It was one of the most memorable moments of James' life.

Her hands shook when Dumbledore confirmed the news that she'd so desperately believed wasn't true. James and Lily dead. The bright lights that were the Potters extinguished forever. Poor Harry all alone. She'd argued with Dumbledore after seeing the sort of Muggles the Dursleys were, begged to raise Harry herself. However Dumbledore claimed that his way was safer for Harry and after all that was all she wanted, his safety.

When Harry James Potter walked into the Great Hall all those years later her eyes glistened with tears. He sat shaking on the very same stool that his father had so boldly walked up to all those years before. As the hat announced Harry a Gryffindor she felt her heart swell with a surge of pride. Another Potter boy a member of her house. His father would be proud.

Suddenly she could see James so clearly. As if he was still alive.

"Look Minnie! My boy a Gryffindor, what did I say? Sirius will be so happy, and wait until Remus finds out."

Her eyes glistened as she watched Harry stumble towards the Gryffindor table and sit next to the youngest Weasely. Yes, she thought. His father would be proud.