22nd February 1973

Minerva stifled a yawn as she walked up the path leading to Hogwarts. The cut on her cheek was now throbbing painfully however; she did not want to touch it until she had had a proper look. Glancing up at the castle, now no longer a mere pinprick in the distance as it had been, she could not help but imagine herself lying in her bed, a crackling fire warming up her room and cold body. The thought of a nice cup of tea in bed seemed to have had an effect, and Minerva noticed that she had picked up speed and was now almost ten feet away from the castle gates. However, as she approached she felt her heart sink when she spotted a tall, thin figure standing there waiting for her.

"Albus, I'm tired can't it wait," she said, her voice almost pleading.

"I'm afraid not my dear," answered Albus seriously, his half-moon spectacles flashing in the moonlight. "Alastor has been attacked."

Minerva did a double take. "Alastor Moody?" she asked, hoping that she was wrong. Dumbledore nodded gravely and Minerva spluttered, "But-But that can't be true! Albus, I was with him only ten minutes ago!"

Dumbledore continued to stride purposefully up the path, his face set in a thoughtful but determined expression. "They have been tracking us, Minerva. All of us. They knew you were coming tonight. It's likely that they have been preparing for this moment for weeks." He looked up at her, his eyes glancing at her bloodied hand and then cheek. "You're hurt."

Minerva waved her hand absently. "It's nothing," she mumbled, her mind already thinking of other things. "But Albus, how did you learn about this? When did it happen? Where even is he now?"

"He's at St Mungo's. Elphinstone took him there-" Minerva opened her mouth but Dumbledore shook his head and she closed it. "The spell cut through the side of his face including his eye."

There was a long pause during which the only sound that could be heard was the wind rustling the leaves on the trees. It was a moment before the information really sunk in and Minerva felt her stomach lurch.

"His eye," she repeated.

Dumbledore nodded once more and Minerva swallowed, feeling a little sick.

"He will be resting at St Mungo's for the next few days. I've sent a message to all the Order members. I think everyone ought to be aware of the dangers."

Minerva nodded, however, her mind was still mulling over all of the other information Albus had given her. "There were about seven Death Eaters in that place this evening. We managed to unmask a fair amount but not all of them…" Minerva let the end of her sentence trail away.

"I expect you recognised a few of them."

Minerva looked at Dumbledore who was watching her with his piercing blue eyes. "Yes."

Her mind wandered back to the image of one of the Death Eaters she had been fighting. Her mask had slipped off for just a moment, however, that was all that was needed. Minerva recognised her instantly and it pained her to see one of her former students stare at her with such hatred and contempt. Although Bellatrix Black had never been a warm or particularly friendly character, Minerva had taught her for seven years from the age of 11 to 18. To see one of her former students look at her in that way and know that they had probably attacked and even killed several other people at only the age of 23 was devastating.

Dumbledore tapped his wand on the large oak doors and Minerva blinked several times as the Great Hall came into view. She had been so completely lost in thought that she hadn't noticed they had arrived yet.

"Do you want to see Elizabeth at the hospital wing?"

Minerva shook her head. She didn't want people asking questions. "I would rather sort it out myself upstairs," she said.

"Very well." Dumbledore smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. "Goodnight, my dear."

Minerva watched Dumbledore walk off, his head bowed and robes billowing. What a drastic turn of events she thought as she too started walking back up to her own private quarters.

Only 13 days until Fantastic Beasts and the Crimes of Grindelwald! Who's excited?