Being Minnie's Daughter

Chapter 52

James' POV

Marauders,

We will be leaving for Hogwarts in approximately an hour. I believe it will take us around an hour and a half to run back to Hogwarts since Mackenzie knows a direct route. I am planning on running back in my animagus and I am hoping you all will meet us in the woods by Hagrid's hut in your animagus forms as well.

I hope your plans for supper in the dormitory are going well for you all.

See you soon,

Remus J. Lupin

I roll back up the parchment and toss it over to Sirius who reads it quickly. "Let me guess, we need to tell Lily the truth soon."

I nod silently. But how can we tell her without her getting mad at us all.

"I have an idea mate," Sirius grins. "I can take care of informing Lily for you. Just let me borrow your owl for a bit."

I look at him suspiciously but nod. "I'm going to go to the kitchens and help Peter bring up the food."

Two hours pass by quickly and Peter, Sirius and I dash down the dormitory staircase and down into the common room.

"Where are you three going in such a hurry?" Lily glares standing up from an armchair by the window. I see a roll of parchment cluched in her hand tightly and look over at Sirius hesitantly.

"We are going to go see Hagrid Lily," Sirius smiles. "Do you want us to bring you back some rock cakes?"

Her eyes widen and she drops back down into her chair, "No thank you, those cakes almost break my teeth everytime I attempt to eat one."

Sirius grins, "Alright Lils, see you later!"

"Bye Lilyflower!" I shout as I wrench open the portrait hole. "Bye Marlene!"

Marlene doesn't look up from the chair next to Lily and instead raises her finger up to us.

We laugh and run down the grand staircase until we reach the large castle doors. We sprint straight towards Hagrid's hut before quickly tucking behind it so we can transform into our animagus forms. We transform quickly and painlessly before entering the woods to find Remus and Mackenzie.

Peter hops onto Sirius' head and then Sirius' ears perk up. He starts bounding away and I quickly prance behind him. We round the corner by a tree and stop abruptly to see Remus talking to Mackenzie. Remus looks up at us smiling.

"Mack, I'd like to introduce you to the rest of the Marauders."

I look down at Sirius and Peter who jumps off Sirius' head. In sync we all transform back into our normal selves.

"Hey Mackenzie, how you doing?" Sirius winks at her. "Did you and Remus have fun over the weekend?"

A stern look crosses her face and instantly she is marching towards us all. Sirius gulps loudly when she stops right in front of him.

POW

I reach up and clutch my chin. "YOWWW!" I look down at Mackenzie and see her hair blood red. "That hurt Mack! Why'd you punch me?"

"That's for not manning up and telling Lily that she's your soulmate while she was in the hospital wing," She sneers before walking back over to Remus.

I look over at Sirius and he is grinning. "I'm just glad she didn't punch me mate."

"It's nice to see you too Mack," I smile softly.

"Honestly James, what were you thinking? She got hurt because Snape wanted to hurt you! Why didn't you tell her?"

"Because she was hurt! I didn't want to worry her about something else,"

"Boys," she mumbles. "Well do you want to go back to the castle or what?"

Remus nods at us to lead the way while he holds back Mackenzie to talk to her for a moment. Us three turn on our tails and run back up to the castle. We throw the doors open and run down the halls whooping and hollering.

Professor McGonagall rounds the corner, coming out of the Great Hall, and glares down at us forcing to freeze in our steps.

"Where have you been?" She shakes her head. "Nevermind, into the hall you go. It is supper time!"

"But Professor!" Sirius whines but Professor McGonagall shakes her head and points. "Go Black."

"Your daughter is back Professor," I smile happily.

Instantly Professor McGonagall's demeanor changes, "why didn't you say that earlier boys?"

Sirius opens his mouth to protest but I quickly elbow him in the stomach to shut up. The large doors open up and in walks Mackenzie and Remus, with Remus holding her hand and guiding her inside.

"Mackenzie!" Professor McGonagall smiles stepping around us boys and moving into the center of the foyer.

"Mum!" Mackenzie shouts, looking shocked at seeing her mom already. She lets go of Remus' hand and rushes forward into her mother's open arms.

Minnie wraps her arms around Mack tightly and scatters kisses all over her head. "Thank goodness you are back safe and sound."

"Why wouldn't I be mum? It's just the forbidden forest, I've travelled through there a billion times."

Professor McGonagall leans away and places her hands on her daughter's shoulders protectively. "The world isn't safe anymore sweetheart, dark wizards are rising and your father and I are beginning to worry about everyone's safety."

"Mum, dad is Albus Dumbledore, he can protect anyone from anything," Mack protests.

"This Dark Lord was student here at Hogwarts darling. He is very pure-blood prejudice. We must keep you safe," Professor McGonagall says quietly. "I have said more than enough for now; it is time for supper." She starts to shepherd Mackenzie inside when I step forward.

"Actually Professor, we were going to eat in our dormitory and celebrate with Mack so she does not have to deal with so many people that are in the Great Hall," I say quickly but quietly in case Professor McGonagall wants to get mad.

Minnie pauses and looks at all of us Marauder's hopeful faces. "Alright, go have fun. No mischief!"

"Of course Professor!" Sirius grins as we turn on our heels and run up the Grand Staircase to the Gryffindor common room.

A tail slaps me in my face as we run and I look up to see a phoenix floating through the air as we race around the moving staircases. I look behind me and only count three other people.

"Is that Mackenzie?"
A caw is my reply.

She transforms back the second we reach the portrait hole. "Caput Draconis," she says with a smile at the Fat Lady.

The Fat Lady nods and smiles down at her. "It is nice to see your cheerful face again Miss Mackenzie."

Mackenzie grins back and scrambles into the common room with the rest of us following her closely. She quickly scans the common room and after determining no one is in there she shifts into her wolf and sticks out her tongue at us. Remus shifts right after her and chases her up the staircase while the rest of us run up in human form.

A gasp fills our ears as Mackenzie takes in our dormitory. Sirius hung up an old painted sheet that says WELCOME HOME MACK! while Peter and I brought up food that is scattered all around the room. We have chocolate frogs, pumpkin pasties, hot chocolate, macaroni and cheese, gluten free pancakes and so much more.

Mack turns around and squeals. She rushes over and throws her arms around Peter, Sirius, and I. "Thank you so much mates!"

"Anything for you Mackenzie," Sirius winks as we plop onto the floor and settle in to eat the night away.