This was written for the Golden Snitch forum's Tiggerific Times challenge using the prompt Minerva McGonagall.

April 5th 1965

"How come you're not going back home for the holidays?" Elphinstone as they lmeandered down the small streets of Hogsmeade.

"I thought I'd help Albus at the school," she answered, "Only a few other teachers are staying so I know he wil definitely need the estra support. Also my fifth and seventh years are all panicking slightly so I offered to set up extra revision classes this week," she smiled at Elphinstone. "How about you? Are you going anywhere?"

"Apart from exploring the corners of London where crooks like Mundungus are hiding, not really no."

"How are things going at the Ministry?"

Elphinstone sighed and passed his hand through his brown hair now flecked with grey. "Not very well to tell you the truth. Nobby Leach is having lots of problems for being the first muggleborn Minister for Magic and I don't think it will be long before he leaves. I've heard rumours that Abraxas Malfoy and a group of other wizards are 'plotting' against him. Times are changing, Minerva and I don't like where things are going," Elphinstone finished with another sigh.

Turning her face to look at him Minerva suddenly noticed how tired he looked. The lines around his mouth and eyes were deeper and his face had lost all colour and was now a dull, sickly grey colour.

"Any progress?"

"Ha, progress… I don't think I've slept more than two hours for the past eight weeks. Most of the attacks are just jokes played on muggles which sometimes go wrong however, there are a few well, actually a fair few, which are proper deadly attacks," he sighed, "It's at these times that I really regret choosing to work at the ministry…"

"Oh I'm sure you'll find something soon," reassured Minerva half-heartedly. Patting his arm she continued, "Anyway, let's stop talking about this, it's Easter, the sun is shining and we've talked about this too many times."

"You're right, as always," chuckled Elphinstone, linking arms with her, "So how is your family?"

"Well, Malcolm and his wife Helen are having their second child and Robert and Florence are in Australia with their two children. They're coming back in two weeks so I'll probably go to Caithness then and see the whole family," Minerva replied.

Elphinstone nodded and they carried on walking in silence. Passing Madame Puddifoots, which brought back memories of Elphinstone's first proposal, Minerva kept on walking but a little faster. As they rounded yet another corner she nearly walked straight into Poppy Pomfrey who was also turning the same corner.

"Oh, Professor McGonagall!" gasped Poppy, clutching her chest and picking up a folder which had slipped out of her hands.

"Miss Pomfrey, what a surprise!" Minerva said, then remembering that Elphinstone was with her she continued, "Elphinstone, this is Poppy Pomfrey a former student of mine."

"Hello," greeted Elphinstone, shaking Poppy's hand.

"Hello," replied Poppy, also shaking Elphinstone's hand before giving a slight nod in Minerva's direction.

"What are you doing in Hogsmeade, Poppy?" asked Minerva.

"Well, I'm looking for a book, which I couldn't find at Flourish and Blott's. I've started the Healer course you recommended and I am really enjoying it but it is a lot of work so I don't go out a lot. I could have borrowed the book from a friend but I suppose I just wanted an excuse to leave the house," Poppy chuckled, as did Minerva.

"Well it was nice to see you Poppy but we must be off," said Minerva.

"Of course Professor, it was nice seeing you as well," replied Poppy, already moving away.

"Do send me a letter telling me how your course is going, Poppy. As your old Professor, I'd like to know how you get on after Hogwarts," called Minerva.

"Of course Professor, goodbye!"

Minerva waved her hand and watched Poppy's retreating back before tugging Elphinstone's arm, "Shall we go then?"

Elphinstone nodded and together they continued to roam around Hogsmeade until Elphinstone had to go back to the Ministry and Minerva had to prepare some lessons for the next few days.