March 1973

Minerva quickly looked side to side to check if anybody was around. When she was satisfied, she carefully removed her wand from her pocket and pointed the tip at the door handle.

"Alohamora."

The lock clicked open and Minerva walked through the front door of her parents' house, and into the hallway. Checking her pockets one last time she sighed when she realised there was still no sign of her keys. Grumbling to herself, she unbuttoned her coat and hung it on the coat rack before checking her watch. It was exactly 6 o'clock. Frowning she slipped her feet out of her shoes and took her woolly hat off. She had rung the doorbell twice before coming in however nobody had answered despite the fact that her mum had told her to come at 6.

Sliding her gloves off, Minerva walked down the hallway and popped her head around the corner into the living room. "Hello?" A fire was crackling in the grate, the heat making her icy cold fingers tingle. "Mum? Dad?" Minerva walked into the room and picked up the empty mugs sitting on the coffee table. The crockery was stone cold.

"Mum?" There was a cough from upstairs and then some creaking. Minerva placed the two mugs by the kitchen sink and walked back out into the hallway. Her Mum was standing at the top of the staircase. She looked tired and much older than when Minerva had last seen her despite it only being a few weeks ago.

"Minerva!" said Isobel, her eyes creasing with pleasure. "Did you ring the doorbell?" Isobel tucked a strand of her grey hair behind her ear and started walking slowly down the wooden staircase. She gave her daughter a tight hug and although shocked, Minerva still returned the embrace; her mother rarely showed such affection.

"I did," answered Minerva as her mum released her. "Are Malcolm and Robert here?" she asked.

Isobel closed her eyes and turned away, motioning at Minerva to follow her. "No. They might not come this holiday after all." Isobel walked into the living room and sat down, resting her head in her hands. Another cough came from upstairs and she briefly looked up at the ceiling before looking back at her daughter. "I thought you would have too much work to come visit us this holiday."

Minerva sat down next to her and held her mother's hands. "You stopped answering my letters. I was getting worried. Besides, I've finished all of my marking and Dumbledore doesn't need me this holiday," she smiled. "I'm all yours."

"Your father will be pleased." Isobel paused before getting up and walking to the kitchen so that her back faced Minerva. "He hasn't been very well these past few days." She flicked the switch on the kettle which started to whistle and bubble. "He would have come down to say hello but he's just had his medicine." Minerva noticed her mother's voice was shaking a bit. "He'll be sound asleep in the next few minutes if not already."

Isobel fell silent and Minerva bit her lip, unsure of what to say. She knew her father hadn't been well when she last saw him and at 78 catching the flu was far from ideal. However, when she had last said goodbye to him his health had been improving drastically. Rather it was Isobel who seemed to be in a worse state.

Minerva opened her mouth about to say something when suddenly the kettle switch flicked up. The two of them jumped slightly and Minerva watched as Isobel briefly passed a hand over her eyes before going to get the kettle.

"Tea?"

"Yes please." As Isobel put two tea bags in and filled the mugs with boiling water, she moved from her position in the doorway so that she was further into the kitchen. "How is he?"

"Well the cold isn't doing him any good," she said, however, Minerva noticed she hadn't really answered the question. "I've tried to wrap him warmly upstairs," continued Isobel still busying herself with the tea, "but he still refuses to let me turn up the thermos stats." Isobel rolled her eyes and tutted, "You know how he is about such things!" Minerva nodded her head knowingly and Isobel gave her a tight smile. "Here you go." She handed her a mug and Minerva wrapped her cold fingers around it.

As they both took a sip a new series of coughs could be heard from upstairs. Minerva looked up to the ceiling.

"Mum?"

"Yes dear?"

"Is it all right if I go up?"

Isobel turned round. She seemed to be wrestling with herself and Minerva was about to reassure her when finally Isobel conceded and nodded. "Of course. He took a turn for the worse this morning but the doctor came a few hours ago and has given him something stronger…" the end of her sentence trailed away. "Don't stay up for too long or your tea will get cold."

"I won't be a moment," said Minerva already walking back into the hallway.

As she reached the staircase, she noticed that all the photos her mum had kept in her bedroom whilst she and her brothers had still lived there were now scattered across the olive green wall. She remembered Isobel trying to put them up several years ago before she had left school. She and Robert had protested and Malcolm had sworn to burn every image of his face if their mother ever hung some up. Their father had determinedly tried to stay out of the argument, however, in the end, had to propose a truce by forcing his three children to allow Isobel to put 4 photographs on the wall. One of all of them together and the other three were individual photos of Minerva, Robert Jr and Malcolm. Minerva smiled. It was strange looking at a photo of her nine-year-old self. She knew her father had this photo in his wallet. Somehow she couldn't believe almost 30 years had passed since that photo was taken.

Finally, reaching the landing, she walked carefully to her parents' bedroom. Having had much practice as a child, she did not land on a single creaky floorboard on her way there. Gently she knocked on the door and pushed it open. Her father was leaning against the headboard of the bed. One leg was out from under the duvet. It looked as though he had been trying to get out of bed.

Hearing someone in the room, he croaked, "Isobel?"

"No it's me, Dad," said Minerva.

His eyes fluttered open and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Minerva!" he said happily. "I was just about to come down and say hello."

"It seems I beat you to it," joked Minerva.

"So you did," agreed Robert, as he rested his head against the headboard. He remained silent for a few minutes and Minerva took a few steps forwards thinking he might have fallen asleep. Just about to turn around and leave, his eyes opened dazedly making Minerva jump. He gave a wheezy laugh. "Not asleep just yet."

Minerva smiled. "I'll leave you to rest. I just wanted to say hello."

"I'm still good to go for a few minutes," said Robert. "Come sit down."

"We all know once you start talking you'll never stop. I told Mum I'd only be up here for a moment or two."

Robert shrugged, "Live a little, Minerva. Aren't I allowed to ask how my little girl is doing?" he motioned again at her to sit down on the bed.

"I suppose so," answered Minerva smiling. "But only for a bit," she warned, "I can't leave Mum alone downstairs."

Robert shook his head with mock solemnity, "Heaven forbid." He reached out and held her hand making Minerva feel like a little girl again, "So, anything new?"

"Not much really," lied Minerva – she had told neither one of her parents about the Order and wanted things to be kept that way. "Elphinstone is planning to come up this week for lunch though. Depending on how his schedule is looking that is."

"Nice fellow that man is," said Robert truthfully. "Is he still working for the government?"

"Yes. He has a lot on his plate at the moment."

"Nice of him to make time to come up and see you then. All the way up in Caithness as well!" Robert rested his head against the headboard again, "Heck of a journey from, erm-"

"-London," said Minerva, her cheeks reddening.

"Hm," his eyes closed again and he didn't speak for several minutes. "How about your students?" He paused as though he was struggling to remember what he was going to say, "Still keeping you on your toes?"

"As always," replied Minerva. "Especially your two granddaughters."

Robert smiled, "Following their aunt's footsteps no doubt?" Minerva raised her eyebrows and Robert looked seriously into her eyes. "No matter how much you try to deny it you were a right old troublemaker as a child," he smiled and closed his eyes once more, however, Minerva knew he was still awake. "You and that cat. You managed to get it to do all sorts of things when you were little."

"I'm sure I did."

Robert smiled and opened his eyes again. "Invite Elphinstone round for lunch this week. Your mother will be more than happy to cook. We haven't had visitors in such a long time."

Minerva's smile disappeared and she looked down at her folded hands on her lap. "I'll ask him if you like."

"You don't seem convinced." In what seemed to take enormous amounts of effort, Robert sat up in the bed and held her hand again which made Minerva look up. "He's a nice lad, Minerva."

"I know."

"It's clear he likes you very much," continued Robert seriously.

Not knowing what to say Minerva half shrugged half nodded and got up rather abruptly. She did not want to continue the conversation.

"Leaving already?" asked Robert in a mildly surprised voice.

"You're tired and Mum will be wondering where I've got to. We'll talk more in the morning."

Robert leaned back in his bed, however, continued to watch her carefully. Feeling his eyes on her Minerva hurriedly switched the bedside light off and made her way out of the bedroom.

"Goodnight, Minerva. Sleep well, lass."

Minerva briefly turned around. "'Night, Dad," she said quietly.