It all started when she was born, being born a woman already had her at a disadvantage, from her peers, in the 1920s, women were just barely given a right to vote, to be educated. Adding to that, she was a half blood witch, further distancing her from her peers, Minerva supposed that she didn't start noticing the problems she faced until she was 5, when her accidental magic surfaced, her mother up to that point hoped she wouldn't have magic, hoped beyond belief that she wouldn't as that meant she would have to tell her husband. After that, life wasn't the same, her father stayed and still loved her but even at a young age she could tell her parents weren't the same after that, it weighed on her heavily, the guilt she had, knowing she ruined the trust her parents shared just by being magical. It didn't get much better, she was one of the first girls to attend school, the constant bullying and mocking she received all because she was a different gender, the condescending tones her teachers had all because she was a girl. When she turned 11 and received her letter she thought this was her chance, she would finally be amongst others like her, those dreams crashed and burned her first year, it wasn't because she was a woman, although that did have a part in it, no it was simply the fact her father was a muggle.
She had been a hat stall, for 5 minutes, the poor hat hadn't been able to decide which of the five houses would have done her justice, her mind could rival Rowena herself the hat had said, her spirit would have made Godric Proud, Her compassion and Loyalty matched Helga's perfectly, and her cunning, well that could have given Salazar a run for his money. In the end, the hat took a closer look at her, something he hadn't had to do in many years, he looked past her mind, her spirit and personality, into the depths of her soul. There he found his answer, she was a Lioness, through and through, her fangs, or wings, or even her stripes may appear on occasion, but she was meant to be one of Godric's, the hat could see all that she was destined to do. "GRYFFINDOR" the hat yelled, watching as she took a seat among her peers, she would bring greatness to their world, he could feel it, she excelled through her classes, a prodigy at Transfiguration, she was no slouch when it came to her other subjects, no even in the slightest, but transfiguration is where she shined. Over the years, she excelled, graduating at the top of her class, from there she became a worker in the department of Magical law, hoping to make a change, to better the rights of women, so they were not seen as property or bargaining chips.
She was quickly reminded that for all of her talents, regardless of her grades, regardless of her magical power, she was still a half blood, a woman at that, and in a world run by pureblood men, her opinions and hope for change slipped through the cracks, creating let down after let down. Change was never easy, she knew that, her father taught her that, change was never easy, if it was easy then odds were, you weren't fighting for the right changes. So she chose a change in careers, if she could not inspire or create change in the adults of today, then she would inspire change in the children of tomorrow, a quick letter to Headmaster Dippet and Minerva McGonagall returned to Hogwarts as the newest teacher. It was slow work, she was an assistant at first, helping her former teacher Professor Dumbledore in the classroom, grading papers and assisting in class. Change was not easy, she reminded herself after long nights grading paperwork, change wasn't easy she would whisper when she had to help the slytherins and Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs, she quickly learned that to Dumbledore, if you weren't a gryffindor then you weren't worth his time. Change was never easy, but there was moments when it was worth it, she thought when a small Slytherin boy handed her a mother's Day card in thanks for not turning him away.
She may never have kids of her own, but that was alright, she far out made for that in the children she taught, in the children she helped, change was never easy, it wasn't meant to be and that's fine with her. Change became a little easier when Dumbledore became headmaster, in no way did she like the man but with his new job, she became a full time transfiguration teacher. Change wasn't easy but it became easier with every smile, every proud look, every time a child became that much wiser, that much better. No it wasn't easy, but seeing the look of happiness, of content on children's faces when she helped them, when she took them in regardless of house, offered them biscuits and helped them with whatever she could, that made the struggle worth it. When she became an animagus, that made change easier too, as a cat she wasn't the transfiguration teacher, or the newly named Head of gryffindor, no, as a cat she wasn't any of that, she was a friend, a confident, the person children went to regardless of what it was, weather it was homesickness, a fight between friends, a fight between family, or if everything felt like it was caving in around them, she was there, a gentle paw or fur to hold, to chase away the bad, even for a little bit.
No change was never easy, it was never fast and quick, but it was worth it to see those children keep smiling, to see them grow and be allowed to be children.
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Until next time my pups
• Mischief Managed•
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The Third Side
FanfictionMinerva McGonagall grew up in a world where she was treated as second best, solely for her gender. She worked tirelessly to become a teacher, that way she could help the children, her children, save them and guide them to better paths. When the war...
