1 August 1952
Minerva slipped her feet into her shoes and quickly slid the fair ticket Dougal had given her that morning into her skirt pocket. Grabbing the keys from the bowl next to the door she was just about to walk out of the house when Malcolm came skidding into the corridor, blocking her way by standing in front of her.
He raised his eyebrows questioningly. "I thought you didn't like fairs?"
Minerva wrapped her cardigan more tightly around her shoulders and sidestepped him. "I don't," she said flatly. "But-"
"She's going to see Dougal."
Robert, who had managed to sneak up behind her, made a love heart with his fingers and the two boys instantly dissolved into a fit of giggles.
Minerva pursed her lips. "Trust you two to act so immaturely," she said under her breath.
"I think you'll find that I'm more mature than you think," Robert said. He plunged his hand into his pocket and removed a blue badge with Prefect written on it in silver. He waved it in front of Minerva. "It arrived this morning with our school letters," he said. "Just like Mum. She was a Ravenclaw Prefect too."
Minerva kissed Robert on the cheek. "I apologise," she said. "It seems you are more grown-up than I thought. Well done, Rob."
Robert smiled proudly. "I think I'm going to put it in my trunk," he said happily, already swinging on the bannister to climb up the staircase. "Have fun on your date," he called.
Minerva rolled her eyes but smiled all the same. She had been spending a lot of time with Dougal recently. Tonight he had asked her to join him at the yearly fair held in Caithness. There was going to be a few rides and a fireworks show at the end. Minerva usually did not go to events such as these ones, much preferring to spend a quiet evening indoors reading a book. This time, however, she did feel quite excited.
"Who is it that you're meeting?" Malcolm asked as Minerva opened the front door.
"No one," she replied smoothly. "See you later, Malcolm."
"See you later, Minerva."
Minerva smiled and walked out of the house.