Summary: Minerva McGonagall comes of age during turbulent times, marked by a horrific Muggle war and the cunning predations of a malevolent, long-lived warlock named Grindelwald. Her own life is marked by struggle: her mother's mysterious mental disturbance; her friends' troubles, which she feels bound to ameliorate; and the looming responsibilities she faces as sole heir to Connghaill Keep. This book, the first in a series, records her last carefree summer and her first year at Hogwarts. The series itself, titled "Before the Beginning", follows Minerva through her formative years,from 1936 through 1945, the end of both the Muggle war and Grindelwald's freedom, and the rise of a new Dark Lord.





The milieu, the protagonist and most of the characters belong to Jo Rowling. The plot is my own.



Thanks to my most excellent Scots, Brit-picking, and history-savvy beta, Ewan Munro. I owe him much more than thanks. Here's to you, Ewan! Most patient beta a girl ever had.

Summary: In a time when tomorrow is never a sure thing, you take what you're given and don't ask too many questions. Marlene McKinnon died before she could begin to understand, and Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were left with realization that, even in a war, life goes on.

Summary: Once branded by the Dark Mark, the sole most powerful sign on the planet, Bellatrix was sent on a mission. A mission that would mean everything or nothing, and she held the power to decide which. To her Lord it would prove her loyalty, her everything, and she was more than prepared to do just that.

Summary: It's hard not to care what they say...

Aggravating, annoying, and stubborn.

Cedric Diggory uses those three words to describe his father, to himself at least. He doesn't want to hurt his father's feelings, but he can't stand not voicing his opinion on things.

What will happen when Cedric finally confronts his dad about the way he feels? Will things turn out badly, or will his father actually listen to him for once?

I'd like to think we'll break away.

This was written for the Character Exploration class on the forums!

Summary: Lily Evans has problems. She sleepwalks, (and always ends up in strange places) she is disorganised, flunking Arithmancy, and, to her dismay, was made Head Girl. There is also the problem of James Potter, who refuses to stop asking her out. Will she ever pull herself together enough to give him a chance?

Summary: The night before Lily's wedding day proves to be a tide of different emotions. As she ponders the upcoming events of the next day, Lily realises she cannot marry James without making one last decision.

Summary: “I love you.”

It had been three days since they’d been together. Three days ago, she had told him. Three days ago, he had left. And now, with only minutes left to them, they tried to express everything that they felt for one another, tried to say everything that they wished to say, before time ran out.

“Come back. Come back to me.”

Summary: When James Potter II's Uncle Zelder is killed in a tragic accident and James is suddenly and unexpectedly drafted into a war, there's seems only one thing to do: run away with his Uncle's latest invention and never return.

Of course, when said invention is a super-upgraded Time Turner and when one is blessed with a gaggle of siblings and cousins possessing excess determination, you can't expect things to go according to plan.

Before James knows what has happened he finds himself in a past that never should have existed - with Albus, Lily, Rose and Hugo along for the ride.

Next-Gen Fic. Rating for later chapters, and only as a cautionary measure at the moment.

Summary: Vox pro decor, decor pro vox. It is a spell with more dire repercussions than Carolyn Riddle ever imagined. Beauty for power, power for beauty - every person has their price.

Summary: Harry Potter and his best friends return for their seventh and final year of school. The Wizarding world begins to rebuild itself after the events of the Battle of Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic and the Order of the Phoenix work together to round up the remaining Death Eaters, still at large.