Mothering Secretly (Minerva McGonagall)

[mercifulheavens]

Author’s Note- I do not own Harry Potter.
I do not own these poems. They are the sole property of Robert Louis Stevenson.
Please review… how many reviews I gather will tell whether or not I shall continue this story…please enjoy…yes both poets are Scottish…

-Prologue-
Mother and Son

A young child picked a book up from the ground and hurried into the other room. His large blue eyes twinkled with excitement as he spotted his mother sitting on the couch. She was going over a stack of papers that to the young boy was a never-ending stack. A sign that his mother was much to busy to read to him. Yet undeterred he silently walked over to her.

“Mama, are you busy?” he asked, innocently. His mother glanced up over her glasses at him.
“What is it?” her voice was the same as he always heard it; soft and patient. He had often wondered why in some stories mothers were depicted as harsh people who never had any fun.
“Could you read to me?” He held the book out in his hands. His mother without hesitation smiled and took the book, carelessly pushing the unfinished work aside.
“Of course.” She said gently ruffled his thick black hair.

Opening the book to the well-worn part that she had read so many times that she had it memorized, she began to read.

“A Good Play
By Robert Louis Stevenson,

We built a ship upon the stairs,
All made of back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.

We took a saw and several nails,
And water in the nursery pails;
And Tom said, “Let us also take
An apple and a slice of cake”;-
Which was enough for Tom and me
To go a-sailing on, till tea.

We sailed along for days and days,
And had the very best of plays;
But Tom fell out and hurt his knee,
So there was no one left but me.”

The little boy smiled as his mother finished. He turned the well-worn page and pointed to the next poem.

“How about that one next?” His mother silently smiled. Although he could not read, her son knew exactly where his favorite things were.
“Two more, all right dear? And then mama has work to do.” The boy agreed with a nod.

“The Land of Story Books
By Robert Louis Stevenson

At evening when the lamp is lit,
Around the fire my parents sit;
They sit at home and talk and sing,
And do not play at anything.

Now, with my little gun, I crawl
All in the dark along the wall,
And follow round the forest track
Away behind the sofa back.

There, in the night, where none can spy,
All in my hunter's camp I lie,
And play at books that I have read
Till it is time to go to bed.

These are the hills, these are the woods,
These are my starry solitudes;
And there the river by whose brink
The roaring lions come to drink.

I see the others far away
As if in firelit camp they lay,
And I, like to an Indian scout,
Around their party prowled about.

So, when my nurse comes in for me,
Home I return across the sea,
And go to bed with backward looks
At my dear Land of Story Books.”

“I like that one better than the other.” The child commented, leafing through the book looking for the final poem.
“Why’s that, love?” His mother asked watching him over his shoulder.
“His friend doesn’t leave him.” He answered simply pausing at the poem he wanted.
“This one, please.”

“My Heart’s in the Highlands
By Robert Burns,

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer -
A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North
The birth place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.

Farewell to the mountains high cover'd with snow;
Farewell to the straths and green valleys below;
Farewell to the forrests and wild-hanging woods;
Farwell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer
Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart's in the Highlands, whereever I go.”

“Thanks for reading to me, Mama.” The boy climbed off his mother’s lap and kissed her cheek. “I’ll go get ready for bed.” He hugged the book to his chest and scampered off toward his bedroom.
Sighing deeply his mother looked over at her stack of papers, then reached over and pulled the first one of the stack.

The little boy put the book away as his mother had taught him and pulled his nightshirt out from under his pillow. Slipping it on over his head, he buttoned the two large buttons. Once dressed he made his way into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

“Be sure to wash your hands and feet, Charles!” his mother called from the other room. Charles frowned. But knowing that his mother would not let him go to bed ‘dirty’, he climbed into the bathtub. Turning the lion shaped knob, he watched as the water began to fill the tub. Soon he had washed his feet and hands. After drying his hands on the hand towel he turned off the water and began to brush his teeth.

Charles had been in bed for a good ten minutes before his mother entered the room to tuck him in. He smiled as she used her wand to light up the dark room and sat by his bed. The enchanted cover began to sing a soft lullaby as the animated dragons on its front and back danced to the tune.

“Could you read one more poem to me?” Charles asked. He had learned early on in his life that he would never get anything from his mother by begging.

“Not tonight, dear.” Her soft hand stroked his hair and she pulled the covers up to his chin.
“All right, Mama. Good night.” He reached up and wrapped his arms around her neck. She gently kissed his forehead and returned the hug.
“Good night, my little bairn. I love you.”

“I love you too.” And the light dimmed as the boy slipped off into a world that was composed entirely of his own imagination.


TBC

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter I-
Breaking the Rules

The moon twinkled benevolently down on the land. Her silver beams shone into the bedroom that a young boy slept in and sighed gently as a breeze ruffled the red curtains. Lost in a deep slumber, the child gripped his blanket edge tightly. His dreams were happy and content as most young children’s dreams are and a small smile had tiptoed its way across his face.

High above the child the ceiling glittered as the many charmed stars twinkled where they had been placed almost seven years prior to that night. They had seen the small room change many times, yet they had remained. It had started out as a nursery with a high walled crib and a red changing table. But in just two years it had been transformed into a muggle sport called soccer themed bedroom with a closet and small round bed. Then but a year later it had changed once more only this time it had become a dragon habitat with dragons on the walls and floor.

Suddenly and without warning the child awoke. His large tired eyes surveyed the room as though he had heard something though no sound had been made. Wiggling out from underneath his cover, he climbed out of the single bed.

Charles walked over to the window and stared out at the trees that he had never seen other than from the window. Sometimes in the day he had seen people walking out by them; but any questions about them were always forgotten before he could ask. His mother had told him in her quiet gentle way that whatever he saw out his window or any other window had nothing to do with him and he was never to wave or interact with them.

He had been outside many times on wonderful picnics and walks with his mother. But she had always taken him someplace else other than where they lived. Once they had been to London, another time Edinburgh; sometimes he didn’t ask where they were. After all what did a location matter to a seven-year-old little boy? As long as he had his mother, Charles was quite content to live with the little mysteries of his life.

But there was one mystery Charles just couldn’t ignore. He had hardly ever been out of the front door of the room. There were many places to go and play inside of the chambers; but the one door that led out into the unknown had been forbidden. His mother had never told him a reason for its restricted access; but he was fairly sure it was a good one.

Slipping his small slippers on, Charles left his room and peeked into his mother’s bedroom. She was fast asleep in her bed; though he knew better than to make any noise, as she was a very light sleeper. Tiptoeing across the sitting room, he soon faced the Forbidden Door.
It loomed in front of him like a piece of candy that he simply had to unwrap. Slowly he reached out and grasped the silver handle. It was cold to the touch and it sent a shiver down his spine as he turned it. Excitement mixed with fear as it began to pull open. Suddenly it slammed shut with a terrible bang and Charles stood stock-still hoping his mother would not wake up.

“Horatio Charles!” His mother said softly, exiting her bedroom and making her way over to her son. He hung his head at his full first name; she only said that when he was in trouble.
“I’m sorry, Mama.” He muttered, his eyes filling with tears. The fact that he knew his mother would be disappointed in his lack of obedience was worse than any punishment he could receive.
Gathering her son into her arms, his mother sighed.

“I don’t tell you things so that you can ignore them, wee one. Rules are very important and if you break them bad things always happen.” Charles shook his head miserably.
“I won’t do it again, Mama. I promise.”
His mother smiled.
“Now go on back to bed, it’s very late and you’ll be tired tomorrow if you don’t get enough sleep.” Charles nodded vigorously and hurried back into his room. He barely missed his mother whisper several locking charms over the Forbidden Door.

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter 2-
Accidental Disobedience

As usual a house elf had brought Charles his breakfast and he had begun to eat it at the sitting room coffee table while watching television. It was a fascinating device to be sure, with lots of things that his mother could never figure out how to work. Thankfully, Charles had learned how to use it by the tender age of three. He had always found it hard to understand how his mother could be so good with magic but fumble terribly when it came to simple things like TV.

“Does Master Charles be wanting more to eat?” asked Yinny, the house elf that helped Charles the most. Charles shook his head and Yinny disappeared with his finished breakfast dishes. It had always intrigued him that Yinny had been able to disappear. But then again he had always wondered more where he went than how he did it.

Using the remote to turn of the boring program, Charles rose from the floor. He could hear his mother dressing in the other room. The clock next to the television states in bold digital letters that it was 6 am; his mother would leave at 30 past and return around lunchtime.

He knew what she did during the time, but frankly was so un-intrigued with her occupation that it had never really interested him. She was a professor in the school that the room was apart of. Once when he had been younger she had taken him on a tour around the large school, he didn’t remember very much of it.

“Charles, are you going to be all right here today?” His mother asked. She never seemed to notice that she had said those same words every weekday morning since he was three. Before then a house elf, mainly Yinny, had taken care of him while she taught her classes.

“I’ll be fine, Mama.” He muttered, turning to give her a hug. His lovely mother had transformed from sweet, gentle fragile woman he usually saw into a taunt, strict strong professor who he assumed everyone but him saw. Charles always liked his mother the way she was with him. Her long wavy hair smelled wonderful and he loved to sit on her lap and snuggle into it. The glasses that she only wore to read made her look older.

“You look prettier with you hair down, Mama.” His mother knelt down in front of him and hugged him close.
“I can’t look pretty when I teach, darling.” Her large green eyes captured his blue ones and he smiled.
“I know. I love you.”
“I love you too.” With a loving kiss to his forehead, his mother rose and strode over to the Forbidden Door. “If you need anything, call for Yinny.”
Charles nodded and watched as his mother disappeared into a hallway that led to the unknown.
By lunchtime, Charles was becoming quite restless. House elves did not play games very well and he didn’t have the patience to teach Yinny how to play better. After several short games of solitaire, he flicked through the television channels for a few minutes. Nothing that he wanted to watch was on.

Walking over to the game cupboard, Charles put away the cards and pulled out ball. It only took five bounces of the wall to bore him. Nothing was very interesting today. Entering his bedroom, Charles gazed out the window at the forest and the lake that was supposed to have a giant squid in it. He was just about ready to resign himself to eating lunch when he noticed a boy standing by the lake.

Curious, Charles stared out at the boy. Although he was quite a ways away from him, Charles was able to pick out a few of the boy’s more prominent features. Messy black hair and large glasses were just about the extent of what he saw.

Suddenly, the boy turned around and faced the castle. Charles without even thinking ducked to avoid being seen. Then he scampered out of his bedroom and ran over to the large window in the sitting room. Peeking out through the thick curtains, he saw the boy still gazing in his general direction. When the boy waved at him, Charles felt his heart soar. He had always wanted a friend. House elves and a gold fish never were the same as the friends that were in stories. So Charles raised his hand above his head and waved back. A smile lit his face as the boy waved again. He had been seen.

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter 3-
The Boy in the Window

Just as he had returned the wave, realization sunk into his mind. One thing he was never suppose to do was let people see him. Charles hid behind the curtain and waited until the boy walked away. Sighing deeply, he called for Yinny and sunk down to wait for his lunch.

His mother was right on time to eat with him and seemed a bit agitated about something. As soon as she had closed the Forbidden Door and whispered the locking charms, she began to unpin her long luxurious hair. Charles watched her melt down into her usual self with hidden glee then scooted over so she could sit next to him.

Gathering her son into her embrace, his mother sat down on the floor. Her wonderful scent calmed his slightly worried mind and he snuggled closer to her.

“How was your morning, love?” she asked, casually.
“Fine.” He said quickly reaching out to grab her plate for her.
“Are you all right?” His mother had caught the fear in his voice. Thinking quickly, Charles hung his head.
“I broke one of my toys.” He lied, knowing she would dismiss it as harmless and ask to see it.
“Oh, that’s nothing to be worried about, wee one. Bring it here and I’ll fix it.” Charles nodded and stood up from her warm embrace.

Once in his room, Charles got down on his hands and knees and pulled one of his many toys out from underneath his bed. It was in perfect running order but with a few hard pulls and twists, he had the perfect broken toy. Hating himself for lying to his mother, Charles exited the bedroom with the toy in hand.



His mother had left to teach another class only minutes after finishing her lunch and Charles was left with nothing to do but brood over his past actions. First he had waved at a boy he wasn’t even supposed to see; then he had lied to his mother about it. What would he find himself doing next?

Charles let his mind wander for a moment and suddenly without warning his eyes both fell on the Forbidden Door. He knew that his mother kept it locked with several charms; all of which he had no idea how to break. No, he would not disobey her again, he reasoned.

A quick nap helped his guilty conscious greatly and hardly after an hour had passed since lunch, Charles had forgotten all about the boy and the lie. Such is the beauty of being a child.

Looking over at the window, Charles strode over to it. A quick peep out wouldn’t be very exciting, but then again lying on his bed and watching charmed stickers blink was not very amusing either. Pulling back the heavy fabric, Charles gazed out at the wood and lake. The boy and another boy were by the lake. This other boy had messy red hair and no glasses. Both seemed to be staring at him.

Charles pulled away from the window and went back to watch TV. However as he reached over to flick the set on; he noticed that the Forbidden Door was not closed all the way. Hurrying over to assess the situation, Charles realized that in her haste to not be late for her classes, his mother had not locked the door. With a quick glance either way down the empty hallway, Charles slipped out into the unknown.

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter 4-
The Trio

Charles cautiously made his way down the hallway. On either side there were portraits and a variety of different suits of armor, so he had no trouble keeping out of sight. Adrenaline throbbed through his veins as he heard voices up ahead. Hunkering down behind a large suit of armor, he waited for the people to appear.

The two men that were talking were both tall; although they seemed to lose all things in common from that point on. While one seemed kind and his happy eyes twinkled; the other scowled and his eyes seemed to glare more than stare. The scowling one wore black robes that matched his greasy black hair amazingly well. It almost hurt Charles eyes to look at the happy man’s robes. Bright purple with millions of shining stars sprinkled all over the fabric made up his robes.

“Severus, my boy.” The purple robed man was saying. His long white beard bobbed cheerfully as he spoke. “You simply can’t take a hundred points from a student for a prank.” It was obvious to Charles that he was greatly enjoying the conversation with the black haired man.
“Headmaster, the prank was on a professor, can I remind you, and therefore should not have been tolerated.” His voice was deep and scary, reminding Charles instantly of every bad person on TV he had every seen combined.
“Oh, loosen up a little, professor. It was only a whoopee cushion.” Charles almost laughed at the image that the headmaster’s comment made. Some student had used a whoopee cushion on the black haired professor.
I wonder what he teaches? Charles wondered watching to two men pass out of his sight. Probably math.

Continuing his trek down the hallway, Charles smiled at his fortune. The adventure that he was having made TV seem dull. Laughter floated down from the end of the hallway and he hid once more.

“Can you believe he took a hundred points for that?” Someone scoffed. Charles peered out from behind a decoration piece to see that the speaker had been a boy with bright red hair. A black haired boy with glasses and a girl with curly brown hair accompanied him. Charles immediately recognized the two boys as the ones by the lake and smiled.

“Yeah, Snape is nothing but a overstepping git anyway. If Professor McGonagall hadn’t heard him shout he would have taken all those points plus a detention.” The black haired boy put in.
“Harry, she couldn’t make him change his mind. We’ll still get detentions. Why did you have to use such an obvious thing? A whoopee cushion with Ron’s name on it?” The girl rolled her eyes.
“How were we suppose to know that my mum had written my name on it?” The boy called Ron said defensively. Harry smiled.
“We may have got detentions but the look of his face was worth it.” All three stopped to savor the memory, before they all burst out laughing.
“What was even better was him trying to explain it to Professor McGonagall.” The girl laughed wiping tears from her eyes.
Ron took a deep breath.
“Yeah. ‘Um…it was a wow pad…I mean a yahoo pillow’” he stuttered reenacting what the professor had said. “Even Professor McGonagall knew what it was called!”

The threesome continued on down the hallway and disappeared from sight. Afraid to lose the people who had waved at him and curious to see where they had gone, Charles followed after them. He passed through several rooms with several other students in them, but no one saw him.

Finally the three children exited a large door that led outside. Charles froze. There was no way he could follow them without being seen. Taking a deep breath and hoping that there were some bushes by the door, Charles stepped outside.

There were no bushes or trees close enough for him to hide behind. Charles got down on his hands and knees and crawled over to the wall, hoping the trio in front of him wouldn’t turn around. Being careful to stay behind trees and rocks, Charles followed them to the lake.

Suddenly he had nowhere to hide and the girl turned around.
“Hello, who are you?” she asked nicely. Petrified Charles stared at her.
“He looks a little young to be a student.” Ron commented taking step toward the frozen young boy.

“If anyone ever finds you, tell them your name is Matthew and you’re my nephew.” His mother’s words echoed through his mind. She had been very careful about things that could happen. At the time it had been fun answering the questions she had asked him, question that she had already told him the right answers to.

“What’s your name?” Harry asked bending slightly so he was eye to eye with Charles.
“Matthew, but everyone calls me Mattie.” Charles said easily once he had cleared his throat. So far everything his mother had told him was crystal clear in his memory.
“What are you doing here?” the girl asked softly, smiling.
“I am visiting my aunt.”
“Who’s your aunt?” Ron asked. Charles hesitated slightly.
“Minerva McGonagall.” Charles sighed as they gaped at him. It was clear to him that his mother acted as stern as she looked in her teacher’s regalia.

“Who are you?” Charles asked, trying to appear friendly and succeeding.
“I’m Hermione and this is Ron and Harry. We’re third years.”
“Third what?” He asked alarmed.
“We’ve been coming to Hogwarts for three years now. How old are you?” Hermione smiled again and Charles decided he liked her.
“I’m seven. Is it true that there is a giant squid in the lake?” Charles asked changing the topic of the conversation.

Harry nodded.
“Yeah. It’s quite old, but it is still there.” Ron opened his mouth to doubtless ask a question, but Charles beat him to it.
“Do you all like school?” Harry shrugged.
“Yeah, I guess so. Professor Snape makes potions dull. But its fine beside that.”
“You mean Snape and McGonagall.” Ron put in, folding his arms. Hermione cleared her throat and motioned toward Charles but Ron failed to notice.
“Between having those two teachers and the war, I’ll never finish.”
Curiosity coursed through Charles and without even thinking he asked a question.
“What war?”
The trio’s mouths all fell open as though he had asked what a human was.