November 1987

Minerva heard a knock on her office door. Coming through the concealed door of her private living quarters, Minerva found her 15 year old niece, Emma, already letting herself in.

"Hello, Auntie," Emma greeted. She was wearing a navy pleated skirt and the fair isle jumper Minerva had given her last Christmas.

"Hello, dear. Tea is almost ready. I bought those biscuits you like."

Emma followed her aunt to her small private sitting room. Every other Saturday, the two would have tea together, skipping dinner in the great hall. Often Emma would end up sleeping over on the couch.

Sitting down, Minerva and Emma drank their tea and ate biscuits and sandwiches.


Later that evening, Minerva read Transfiguration Today on the sofa while Emma sat cross legged on the floor trying to do homework.

Sighing, she got up and moved towards the couch, taking a seat next to Minerva.

"Aunt Min, how old were you when you had your first kiss?"

Minerva, slightly surprised by the question, set her magazine down on the coffee table, giving her niece her full attention. "Well, um, I was 17."

"Was it with another student?"

"Yes. A boy named James who was a year above me," Minerva looked at her niece's face and saw that it was flushed. Minerva smiled and asked, "did you..."

"Last week I took a walk with Blake Andrews around the lake and well... he kissed me," Emma said with a blush.

"I assume it was your first kiss?"

Emma gave an embarrassed nod.


The clock had barely struck midnight when Minerva finished her paperwork in her office. In her sitting room she found her niece sleeping peacefully on the sofa. Minerva retrieved a warm tartan blanket and put it over Emma's sleeping form. Bending down, she stroked her hair soothingly for a moment before going to bed herself.