January 2 1977

Gulping down the last dregs of her tea Minerva finally stood up and placed her empty mug on the coffee table.

"Leaving already?" asked Robert from across the room.

"I'm afraid so." Minerva picked up her bag, which had been resting on the floor by her feet. "Thank you for lunch, Florence," she said, turning to her sister-in-law.

Florence smiled and got up from her chair. "Not at all. We'll be seeing you again next week anyway, right?"

Minerva nodded, "I found a nice place we could have dinner for Mum's 75th. If Malcolm and Helen come back from Romania a day early I'll be able to book it for Saturday next week."

"That sounds perfect. Robert can send a letter to Malcolm," said Florence, looking at Robert who was now also standing up. "Helen is coming back tomorrow anyway, it was only Malcolm who was planning on staying a while longer."

"They've just taken in 2 new dragons I think," explained Robert, as the three of them trooped out into the hallway and started to make their way to the front door. "One of them was quite badly injured when they found it so Malcolm was planning on staying until Sunday to make sure it had healed and settled in properly." He handed Minerva her coat and scarf, "I'm sure he can get another colleague at the sanctuary to take care of it though."

"I'm sure," Minerva smiled, buttoned up her coat and gave her brother a brief hug, "If not I'll book it for another day."

Robert nodded and gave her her satchel. "Try and smuggle the girls out from school if you can," he said with a sly smile.

Minerva gave him a piercing stare, "You know I can't do that." Robert shrugged and Minerva felt a smile tug at her lips, "I'll ask Albus," she said, "But that's all."

"Take their cousins too," added Robert, "We can't leave anybody out."

Minerva sighed in mock annoyance and looked at her brother who was trying to look innocent. "I'll try my best," she secured the strap of her satchel on her shoulder and moved closer to the front door. "Anyway, I really must be off. Look after yourselves," she added seriously. Minerva watched as her brother's features darkened, as all signs of amusement vanishing from his face. "It's not likely that anything will happen here but, just in case, it would make me feel a lot better if you kept your wands on you when you go out in the evenings." She looked at them both before getting pulled in for a hug by Florence. "I can't imagine what I would do if something happened to either of you."

"We'll stay alert," said Florence, releasing Minerva and then holding Robert's hand in her own. "There was a list of protective spells in the Daily Prophet this morning. I'll get Robert to put some on the house this evening."

Minerva felt herself relax a little. "That will make me feel much better." She put a hand on the front door and pushed it open. "I'll see you next week then."

The three of them said their last goodbyes before Minerva walked out of the house and started to make her way down to the village. She had an hour to spare before she was due to meet Elphinstone in his new apartment. They had decided they would go to the Order meeting together since Moody had started recommending that no one should travel alone, especially since Voldemort and his followers seemed to be attempting to pick off Order members one by one. Luckily so far all of their attacks had been failures as nobody had died. However, it was clear that Voldemort was targeting Order members as Alastor had been attacked several times in the past week along with the Prewett twins who had been followed several times.

Minerva shook her head and sighed wearily as she trudged down the muddy path. It had been months since she had had a decent nights rest or a day when she could simply read a book or enjoy a walk without thinking of the increasingly frequent attacks now on muggleborns as well as muggles. Trying to force the thoughts of Voldemort and the Order from her mind, she continued her descent to the village, entertaining the idea of stopping by the bookstore to buy another book to add to her growing library, or Albus a copy of the knitting patterns he so enjoyed. Then she could pop by the bakery and get some biscuits she could share with Elphinstone for tea.

Settling on this plan, Minerva felt her slow meander turn into a brisk walk as she thought of the hundreds of books she could choose from. Finally reaching the second-hand bookshop, she enjoyed the slight tingle of the bell as she opened the door, the familiar noise sending her mind flying back to the countless times she had visited the store during her seemingly endless summers in Caithness.

As she entered the shop seemed empty and quickly Minerva double-checked the sign on the door to confirm whether the store was still opening. When she read she had 2 hours until it shut, she closed the door and walked further into the shop, the floorboards creaking underneath the soles of her shoes.

Picking out a book, which her mother had recommended that morning, Minerva turned it around and started reading the blurb. It had been barely two minutes when she heard hurried footsteps come down the stairs.

"Ailsa!" she said startled, as the old shopkeeper hastened towards her. The old woman's eyes were wide with fear and Minerva felt a sense of unease creep over her, "What's happe-"

"Haven't you seen?" Ailsa didn't leave time for Minerva to answer, and instead grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her towards the shops front window. Nonplussed, Minerva let herself get driven by the old woman and mirrored Ailsa's expression when she finally peered out of the rectangular glass. Rather than see the usual houses and trees against the deep blue sky, the skyline of Caithness' most rural town was ablaze with fire. People could be seen running down the hill and Minerva felt a ball of panic grow in the pit of her stomach.

Without a moments thought she shook off Ailsa's hand from her wrist and ran to the door of the shop.

Ailsa hurried after her. "I've called the firemen and an ambulance," she said. "They'll be here any-" Minerva didn't hear the last of the bookseller's sentence. Already out on the streets, she swiftly hid around the side of a building and disapparated when she was sure no one was looking.

The scene that greeted her, once she appeared a few yards away from her brother's house, was one that had not even surfaced in her worst nightmares. The front of the house was black and crumbling - the flames having already eaten at the main entrance. She could hear the beams from inside creaking and the heat from the flames, already licking the highest windows, made Minerva lift up her arms to shield her face from its intensity.

As she staggered backwards to avoid the flying wood that splintered on the ground upon impact, she caught sight of a greenish tinge hovering above the smouldering wreckage of Robert and Florence's house. Before she had time to reach her wand, the last of the house exploded launching Minerva high up into the air and then crashing down against the crumbling front wall.

Sorry I haven't updated for a while! A lot has been going on at the moment. Reviews would make my day :)