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Minerva McGonagall has visited many Muggle families today but her last, her thirteenth (a complete coincidence, of course) are undoubtedly the strangest. Minerva has met a lot of Muggles in her time so would like to think she knows them, knows what the usual range of reactions are.
But the Williams family reacts strangely.
Well, somewhat. If it had not been for one tiny detail, Minerva would not have been surprised. She would have completely forgotten the encounter. Or maybe she would have remembered, but only for a short while, because it is her last visit of this frankly very exhausting day. Minerva needs sleep. She is not so drowsy, however, that she misses the wary expression on the adults' faces when she mentions Hogwarts.
The woman leans into her husband, whispering something in his ear that Minerva cannot hear, not even with her enhanced ears. Being a cat comes in handy sometimes. She rather likes to prowl the corridors - it is much easier to catch students breaking rules when not a human. No one hears a cat coming: at least not until they have met Mrs. Norris for the first time. That is always satisfying.
She is well aware that most of Hogwarts hates her fellow feline and secretly, she is not too fond of her either but appearances have to be kept and no matter how much she dislikes Argus, he and his cat are one of the best ways to keep students safe. And watching students alternatively do everything they can to avoid the pair or doing everything they can to get on their good sides is incredibly amusing. None have succeeded naturally, not even the best cat charmers.
She's getting a little distracted.
Minerva brings her attention back to the family in front of her just as the door opens and shuts - loudly - and a young woman comes in.
"Dad, Irene, Toby, you won't believe what just happen-", the young woman's eyes suddenly snap to hers and Minerva finally breathes, the opening of the door having startled her. She is not used to being surprised and she did not hear the woman coming. She presumes by the address of 'Dad' that she must be Toby's sister, though her much paler skin would not necessarily suggest it.
"Hello, I'm Sarah.", she introduces with a flourishing bow. Despite herself, Minerva cannot prevent the small twitch of her lips. Such a flamboyant gesture reminds her of four troublemakers, four young students that she was very eager to see out in the world. It had been nothing like she expected. She hopes for a much better fate for the woman in front of her.
"Professor McGonagall.".
"A professor?". Sarah turns curious eyes towards her stepmother and her father, absentmindedly making her way over to them. For a minute, the young boy she has come to talk to is obscured from her view. It should be insignificant but Minerva is unsettled by the elegant sweep Sarah makes as she settles behind her parents, a family unit. The strange Muggle woman looks like a bird sheltering her children as she casually stands behind the parents' chairs.
Blinking, Minerva continues her explanation. The image fades at once but she cannot help but remember, cannot remove a lingering sense of unease. A small creature appears, nestled in the sister’s hair and Minerva has to blink again.
“Miss Williams.”, she finally says, “I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizar…”. Minerva trails off as she sees the expression on Sarah’s face: fear.
Her parents have already turned to face her, concerned faces looking up at the woman in front of her. Pale, green eyes are wide open and though they are certainly not the same shade, they remind Minerva of another young woman with the same coloured eyes. Lily would have liked Sarah, she thinks, had they met.
”My partner is acquainted with the magical world…”, Sarah confesses. “He said he was a Scub? Sqab? Squip?”.
”A squib.”, Minerva automatically corrects. It makes sense now, why her parents deferred to her judgement. She cannot condone telling the girl who you are seeing that you are a Squib, much less her parents but she soon decides to let it go.
”That!”, Sarah exclaims, tapping her forehead with the heel of her palm and looking sheepish. Jareth is most certainly not a Squib but it was the best excuse she could think of on the spot. He’ll have fun with it, she is sure. And she is more than willing to watch adoringly as he makes all of those snobby wizards eat their own hats.
“Mr Williams is a wizard - I presume you know what that means?”.
“Not exactly.”.
”If you choose to attend Hogwarts, Mr Williams, you will be required to purchase school supplies from Diagon Alley. I will be more than happy to show you around. Please bring some money to convert into our currency.".
"Wizard money!", an excited ten (soon to be eleven) year-old says and his father pats him fondly on the head.
"How long does Toby have to decide?", his mother asks curiously.
"I'm afraid I will need your answer by tomorrow.".
The three adults turn to converse, still too quiet for Minerva to hear. She catches a few words though, namely 'ask him', 'goblins' and 'later'. Sometimes, having extra sensitive ears does not pay. There is nothing much of interest, that is clear and Minerva will gladly be on her way. Her bed is very much summoning her and she is sure that she is beginning to sway.
"I will be back to see you tomorrow to hear your final answer.", she says firmly. "It was a pleasure to meet you.".
"Of course.", Sarah says, unexpectedly regal once again. It feels like a dismissal. "May your dreams be guarded well.".
It is an undoubtedly strange way to say farewell and Minerva is still thinking about it as she prepares herself for bed. It does not leave her, not in the shower, nor when her teeth are brushed nor when she changes.
There is something undoubtedly strange about Sarah Williams.