Minerva's Daughter Annabella

Baby girl.

Minerva walked quickly up to the common room. The portrait swung open and in walked Mcgonagall. "Annabella Eileen Mcgonagall." She spoke as though addressing a class full of troublesome fifth years and complete silence was made as everyone looked at Bella. "Nice middle name." George joked and Bella just looked paler than usual. She walked over to her mother and then followed her out. 'I have done nothing wrong.' She thought, the girl had literally read and slept for the past seven or so weeks.

Once the two were finally in the transfiguration professors quarters Minerva began. "What has gotten in to you?" The small girl just looked down feeling scared. "Dumbledore has just approached me telling me that you have spent your life down in the library. You skip the meals and don't speak to anyone. You also just completely ignored me in the library. Not only was I humiliated that Albus had to come and talk to me about this but also you were absolutely out of order ignoring me." The stern Scottish tone was furious and with every word there was a greater loss of control over herself. In truth Minerva had realised the neglect for her child.

Bella was outwardly unchanged but deep down her words hurt more than all those weeks ago. Still Bella remained quiet as her mother continued "I don't know who has brought about this change but I wish for you to stop seeing them immediately. You are to stay away." After this was said Bella turned and left. Her mother shouted and demanded that she return but Bella walked. A tear moved down her left cheek but that was the only sign of emotion. She walked not paying attention when she found herself outside.

As her foot right foot left the castle a baritone voice snapped her back to reality. "I guess your mother knows." He said annoyance in his voice. She nodded but Snape was not willing to let her go yet. "Turn around when I talk to you." His voice was menacing and threatening causing her to do just that. As she turned he saw the tear line on her cheek but blamed it on hormones. "Where are you going?" He asked with curiosity embedded in his voice. Bella just shrugged her shoulders whilst still not meeting his eye. "Can you not speak?" He was outraged at her lack of respect. At this she finally met his eye but swiftly turned and left, Snape attempted to catch up but even with the small distance between the two she had eluded him. Bella was sat at the side of the castle in a part that was difficult to see into but easy to see the outside from within. As she sat there more tears fell down her face but were wiped away by her hands. 'Short sleeves were a stupid idea and so were these jeans.' She mentally berated but her distraction wasn't good enough as she thought back to her mother. 'Did she really not notice me that much? I notice when something is wrong with her but she never tells me what! Annabella you are 10 too young for life but too old for self pity.' She kept repeating hoping to fall for it.

The next thing she knows Bella wakes up to another inch of snow around her. She had spent the night outside crying, crying was something she had done a lot recently. Pulling herself up her whole body was aching from the poor sleeping position. The snow was as high as her ankles but it was too cold to stay out much longer. The large doors were pulled open with a great heave and closed with the same effort. Once in she walked slowly and unwillingly to madam Pomfrey.

"Hello my dear. Oh look at you, you look frozen." Annabella nodded and drank down the warming potion that she had been given. With a smile Bella left again. The small ginger witch walked through the halls towards the library where she could continue reading as before.

A tired sigh escaped the girl as the clock hit eight in the evening. 'Best get going otherwise Filch will make a big deal of it.' She thought as she carried the book back to the shelf so she could go to the Gryffindor common room. The halls were empty and quiet as each step could be heard echoing through the halls up to the common room. The lights were due to be put out soon but Bella could navigate the castle blind. Once she was at the bottom of the steps due to go to the Gryffindor common room she saw her mother. Quickly backing up Bella went to her next option, a spare private quarters on the ground floor. Before she could get much further she was grabbed by her shoulder, gulping and looking back she noticed her mother's shoes. 'That's not good.' She thought and tried to escape again. "Not so fast." Her patience had obviously worn thin already so, Bella gave in and walked back with her mother to the private quarters. As the two entered the older witch cast a spell to lock the door. "Alright what has happened?" Her mother asked with a sharp disappointed tone throwing daggers at her daughter. Minerva could see the turmoil that her daughter was feeling. "I am warning you. Now who has made you act in such an insufferable way?" Feeling tired Bella responded "you." Some what taken back the woman sat down and ushered for Bella to do the same. The two sat on the beautiful chairs that decorated the dining area. "What have I done?" The professor pointedly said feeling a little guilty. "When I got back from the Weasley family I came and asked you how you were and noticed that you were too caught up to even pay attention so I said some random things and realised I couldn't even get you to acknowledge me. The next day I did the same but asked some questions I shouldn't. I guess I just got worked up." Minerva pulled her daughter closer by the chair then placed her old fingers beneath the young girls chin forcing her to make eye contact. "What did you ask?" Her tone was low and worrying. "If you loved me, if you wished I was a Weasley instead. You told me you didn't love me and that you wished I was their child." Mcgonagall nodded and hugged the child tightly. "I am sorry if I seem distant. I promise I don't mean it. Now where did you go last night? I warded the door so that if you entered I would know but you never did." Bella explained sheepishly and her mother sighed. "Right. You are coming to bed with me tonight." Bella felt happy and reluctant but nodded anyways.