#already obsessed with apolline and romulus' relationship

[decennia]

introducing: apolline "crookshanks" mcgonagall in limerence

Minerva McGonagall never had children of her own, but that was quite alright, because she had her niece and nephew, Apolline and Francis. They were all she needed by way of the next generation of McGonagalls, a sentiment that was well agreed upon across the board once they had enrolled at Hogwarts. She never expected them to be as much of a handful as they were. Or, more specifically, Apolline.

The Marauders were by no means "the bad crowd," but that didn't make them particularly good, either. And in her fifth year, Apolline, now lovingly dubbed "Crookshanks," happened to fall into their little group, to the surprise of no one. A cat, rat, dog, wolf, and stag. A nursery rhyme waiting to happen. She was perfectly suited to their chaos — she had a talent for trouble, and was a magnet for mayhem.

She was James' courage — she liked to take credit for James having said anything to Lily Evans at all. She was Sirius' warmth — so often was he left cold and flinching from the hollow of Grimmauld Place that Apolline was the only one who could touch him without him thrashing away. Remus' comfort, especially on the wax and wane. And she was Peter's trust; always the first to know of anything and everything that happened to him... Until she wasn't any more (but that's a story for another time).

So it had been quite natural of them to be protective of her when Remus' estranged cousin returned to town. But Romulus Greyback Howell had nothing but good intentions. Or so she hoped.

She should've known better.

TAG LIST: @perfectlystiles @sgtbuckyybarnes @materialkii @hughstheforcelou @anna-phora @reggiemantleholdmyhand-tle @lost-in-the-shelves

HP TAG LIST: @ben-bcrnes