August, 1975
Minerva walked down the path leading towards Malcolm's cottage in Surrey. Malcolm and his wife, Emma, had invited her for dinner. Term was about to begin and soon Minerva would be too busy to see much of her family save for a Saturday here and there.
She reached the front door and knocked firmly. A moment later, a pregnant Emma opened the door with a bright smile on her face.
"Minerva!" she exclaimed, giving her a warm hug.
"Hello, Emma. How are you?" asked Minerva, as they broke apart.
"Tired," she replied with a weak smile. Emma was a pretty woman in her early thirties with shoulder-length, golden blond hair. She was wearing a loose dress that fell just below the knee. Her growing belly was almost completely hidden.
The two women walked into the neat sitting room. Minerva's niece, Isobel, was sitting on the floor playing with a small toy horse. The five year old girl had inherited her mother's blond hair, but she most certainly had her father's green eyes.
Isobel jumped up and hugged Minerva tightly around her waist. Minerva in turn stroked her niece's hair.
"Auntie!" Isobel exclaimed.
"Hello, dear."
As they parted, Malcolm walked in. He had just come from his office at the Ministry. Minerva smiled broadly at her younger brother as he kissed her cheek in greeting.
After dinner, the four returned to the sitting room.
Emma, seated in an arm chair, gasped slightly, placing a hand on her stomach. Both Malcolm and Minerva looked at her with worried expressions on their faces.
"I'm alright," she said with a smile. "The baby is just kicking."
"How far along are you, Emma?" Minerva asked.
"About 6 months," her sister-in-law replied. "I had forgotten how exhausting pregnancy can be."
Minerva smiled. She looked at her niece, who was falling asleep against Minerva's side.
The adults talked for a while longer, mostly about the Ministry and Hogwarts. Finally, Malcolm lifted his sleeping daughter into his arms. Isobel's eyes fluttered open.
"Daddy?" Emma said softly.
"It's time for bed, darling."
"Can't auntie put me to bed?"
Minerva looked at her brother, and after a moment, reached for Isobel.
Isobel held onto Minerva tightly as her aunt carried her up the stairs. Emma followed. Once in the bedroom, Minerva sat her on the bed. Emma began to help her daughter change into her pajamas. As Minerva watched, she thought about her occasional longing for a child of her own. She wondered if she would be as good of a mother as Emma.
In short, Minerva was feeling broody.