Chapter 2 –
"Minerva, could you go and stop your brothers from chasing Oscar please?" asked Isobel, her voice shaking only slightly.
The ten year old looked at her mother then father before obediently sliding off her stool and making her way out of the kitchen.
"Close the door behind you please, lass," called Robert warily.
Minerva did as she was told however the sound of tense voices was still audible as she climbed up the stairs. Biting her lip, she hurried to the first floor of the manse and followed the sound of giggles and scampering feet, which she knew belonged to her brothers. Pushing open the door of her father's study, she was greeted by the sight of Malcolm and Robert shrieking with laughter as they ran around the room trying to catch the cat.
"Stop torturing the poor cat," admonished Minerva as she picked up a frightened Oscar. "Look at him, he's terrified!"
"We were only playing," explained Robert.
"Oscar was having fun!" added Malcolm earnestly.
Minerva looked sternly at the two boys, however, the innocent and cute expressions of their faces made her anger short-lived.
"If you go brush your teeth now, I'll read you a story before bed," she said.
Her brothers perked up and Malcolm squealed excitedly. "Can it be the Santa Claus book?"
"In July?" joked Minerva. Malcolm pouted and Minerva grinned, "All right. But go brush your teeth first."
Malcolm giggled and ran out of the room to the bathroom, pulling his older brother with him.
"Thank you Minerva!" cried one of them from the hallway.
Minerva smiled. "Come now Oscar, let's get you some dinner."
Carrying the now calm cat down with her, she trudged down the stairs and was about to open the kitchen door when she heard her father's voice echo from within –
"– and let her go to a boarding school in a years time!"
"We have to!" retorted Isobel's angry voice.
Minerva pressed her eye against the keyhole to watch the scene before her. Her father was pacing up and down the kitchen; his glasses still perched on his long nose. Isobel was sitting at the table her forehead resting in her hands.
"Why can't she just go to one of the local schools?" said Robert, his voice rising slightly.
"Hush now Robert, the children will hear us!" whispered Isobel. "And you know why we can't send any of them there."
There was a pause as Robert stopped pacing and closed his eyes. "Are you sure they're all..." he waved his hand as he searched for the word, "magic as you say?"
"Yes."
Robert sighed and walked back over to the table and sat down opposite his wife. "Malcolm's only five-"
"And he has managed to get in all locked rooms without so much as a key!" snapped Isobel. "Your son Robert, no matter how many times we cut his hair it looks longer by the time we come back home. And Minerva…" Isobel sighed, "you remember Minerva as a baby?"
"Bagpipes playing by themselves, floating toys and able to make Oscar do her bidding with a snap of her fingers." Robert sagged, however after a few moments a small smile tugged at his lips. "Remember that time she got him to bring a whole packet of biscuits to her room for her?"
Isobel chuckled and nodded. Getting up, she patted her husband's hand. "We better make sure the little ones are in bed. It sounds pretty quiet up there which is promising."
Robert smiled and gave his wife an affectionate kiss. As her parents started to get up Minerva quickly moved away from the door as quietly as possible.
